A Warsaw man is charged with cruelty to an animal for allegedly locking his dog in a pet carrier and leaving it in a rented storage area.

David W. Burgess, 34, of 3062 W. Old Road 30, Warsaw, is in Kosciusko County Jail on $5,000 bond.

He was arrested Monday after a Warsaw police officer determined the dog belonged to Burgess, a former Etna Green police officer.

A key-pad security system showed the last time anyone was in Burgess' shed was April 5.

The owner of the storage areas called police Saturday after another renter complained of an odor and noise coming from a nearby storage shed.

Cpl. Steve Brown of the Warsaw Police investigated. He and the owner could not contact Burgess who was renting the shed. The storage units have a rule against keeping animals in the sheds.

Brown said the owner cut the padlock and he raised the door of the shed. Brown described the smell of the dog feces and said he saw the pet carrier placed against the metal door, in full view of the heat from the sun.

Brown said there was a opened bag of dog food sitting in the shed, but it could not be reached by the dog locked in the pet carrier.

Brown took the full-blooded German Shepherd, named Kane to the Kosciusko County Animal Shelter. The dog weighed only 49.1 pounds after he drank a gallon of water, Brown said.

Brown said the dog only wanted to drink and eat after he was rescued from the 2 feet high by 3 feet long pet carrier. A veternarian who examined the dog said he was healthy, only dehydrated and emaciated. The vet also said the1-1/2 year old dog should weight between 75 and 80 pounds.

"He's a sweet dog," Brown said. "There's not a mean bone in his body." Brown said now that Kane is eating, he wants to play with the people at the shelter.

The case will go to the court, Brown said. If the shelter gets legal possession of the dog, Brown said he will be very selective in finding Kane a home.

Burgess has not told police why he allegedly locked the dog in the shed, Brown said. [[In-content Ad]]