Man sentenced to 180 days in jail for starving dog

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - A 23-year-old man was sentenced to 180 days in jail after he withheld food and water from his dog for weeks.

Reginald Culpher was sentenced on criminal charges brought through the Prosecutor’s Office for abandonment and neglect of an animal.

According to Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control, Culpher’s emaciated pit bull mix was found in an abandoned house where Culpher had been keeping it with little food or water for weeks. The temperature inside the home was 98 degrees when the dog was found.

Culpher admitted he had never taken his dog to a veterinarian.

Investigating Officer Jason Miller said it was the skinniest dog he had ever seen in his career as an Animal Control Officer. The pit bull mix weighed 17.8 pounds at nine months old. 

Culpher gave the dog to Animal Control to avoid taking him to a veterinarian.

Animal Care & Control said the dog is recovering and gaining weight under the volunteer care of Animal Control Officer Miller who has also expressed an interest in adopting the dog.

Donations to Animal Care & Control’s “Angel Fund” can be made to assist with medical bills of advanced cruelty and neglect cases. The "Angel Fund" is used in cases in which an animal needs extra assistance in order to make it to the adoption program.