HUBER HEIGHTS — Three people are facing more than 250 charges after investigators said they mistreated animals and stole more than $200,000.
As reported on News Center 7 at 11, Police showed up at a house in Huber Heights and rescued animals Wednesday.
Since last summer investigators said the suspects kept bouncing around from property to property claiming to run a dog training business.
>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Untrained, neglected; Local dog training business charged with stealing $200K, mistreating animals
Emmy and Baily are happy, playful, and loving dogs —but it took months to get them to this point.
Their owner Randy Reed is still working to reverse the trauma his dogs faced after he dropped them off for two weeks at Dayton Dog Trainer LLC in Brookville.
“They were staked out in the field. They had excrement on them,” Reed said. “They had kind of a rash on their bellies and believe me, I’ve talked to so many people that have a whole lot worse situation than what I have.”
Like Melissa McClure — she said she dropped her dog, Tater, off for training and when she went to get him was “overwhelmed” with what she saw.
Tater was underweight, missing fur, and McClure things somebody shaved his teeth.
“They were the most perfect pearly white teeth. And when we got him back, they were down to nubs and rotten,” she said.
Reed and McClure are two of almost 70 dog owners who said they paid the company more than a combined $200,000.
“There’s a lot of people out there that can’t afford help right now for their dogs because they gave him all their money,” Reed said.
They were starting to think investigators were not going to do anything.
>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Local dog training business accused of neglecting animals, causing death of one
But Wednesday investigators filed more than 250 misdemeanor and felony charges against Jason Jones, Tabatha Taverna, Jennifer Long, and their business.
“I was thrilled, over the moon,” McClure said.
“What he was doing was cruel. It was abusive,” Reed said.
Jones, Long and Taverna are in custody of the Montgomery County Jail.
Police previously told News Center 7 that because of their business one or two dogs had to be put down.
Anyone who believes they may have been victimized is encouraged to contact Det. Sgt. Jeff Muncy at 937‐847‐6612.
News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.
©2024 Cox Media Group
