OXFORD, Ohio — An Oxford woman has been charged with misdemeanor cruelty to animals for allegedly neglecting a dog in her care, according to police.
On Sept. 13, Oxford Police animal control officers were sent to Oxford Commons for a welfare check on a 1-year-old male rottweiler named “Dollar” that was locked in a cage.
The animal control officers worked with the owner over the next few weeks to establish proper caretaking and a proper feeding regimen and assisted in arranging veterinary visits. The did not have a follow-up veterinary visit last week.
The animal control officer responded to the apartment and found that Dollar’s owner, Zichang Li, was “grossly negligent in adhering to the direction of both the animal control officer and the veterinarian,” according to police. Dollar was found emaciated, locked in his cage without food or water and soiled with his own urine and liquid feces.
Li was arrested and Dollar was taken to the veterinarian, who determined he was emaciated, had a fever and lost nearly 10 pounds from his last visit one month prior.
Since his removal from the apartment, Dollar has been a patient at the veterinary hospital and is being rehabilitated. He is bathed, eating, and feeling much better now, officials said.
Li, 21, is charged with second-degree misdemeanor animal cruelty. She is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Butler County Area I Court.
