A homeowner in Muskogee is fighting back against allegations he may have allowed dog fighting on his property.
FOX23 confirmed Muskogee animal welfare officers are investigating the circumstances surrounding a dog’s death on Wednesday.
A Muskogee Police Lieutenant said animal control officers were investigating an animal cruelty complaint near the 2600 block of Denver Street in the city on Wednesday.
The complaint came after someone called Muskogee Police concerned about the safety and health of animals. When animal welfare officers arrived at the home, they found a dead dog who had injuries consistent with dog fighting.
Muskogee’s Director of Animal Welfare said the department’s investigation hadn’t finished.
She also said there was a chance animal cruelty charges against the homeowner could be filed after the District Attorney took a look at the case.
When FOX23’s Adam Paluka went to talk with the homeowner, he got a whole different story.
The homeowner wasn’t comfortable talking on camera, but he didn’t hold back when the camera was off. He says there’s no way he would be involved with dog fighting. He believes his dog, who was chained outside the house, died after getting attacked by a stray dog.
He says his neighbor called the police and blew the whole thing out of proportion. FOX23 tried to talk with that neighbor, but we were told she wasn’t home.
The man at the center of the allegations says he’s furious these claims are being made, and when FOX23 talked to other people in the area, they backed his story.
The homeowner says he was ticketed for not disposing of the dog’s body quickly enough.
FOX23 will stay on top of this story and bring you any new developments as they become available.
