CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A Pike County woman was sentenced Monday in the dragging death of her small dog.
Cynthia Temple-Colburn, Waverly was found guilty in February of Felony animal cruelty.
Her charges stem from images that went viral across social media showing a small dog being dragged behind Colburn’s car.
Authorities found the woman by identifying the car seen in the graphic images.
At the time, Colburn told investigators that the dog had leaped from the rear driver’s side window and, allegedly unbeknownst to Colburn, was dragged for nearly a mile.
According to the Ross County Dog Warden, the injured dog was transported to the North Fork Animal Clinic and later to the Ohio State University Veterinarian Clinic for further evaluation. It was there, the warden said, that the injured dog, nicknamed Blake, was humanely euthanized.
In response to her conviction in February, the Ross County Humane Society said, “For the first time in Ross County, a case of felony animal cruelty was successfully prosecuted.”
Testimony was provided, the Humane Society said, by witnesses to the event, as well as the Humane Society Executive Director Jenn Thomas, Deputy Dog Warden Pam Longlott, and Dr. Anda Young of the Ohio State Veterinarian Clinic.
Judge Matthew Schmidt ordered Colburn to mandatory community control sanctions, 180 days in the Ross County Jail, and is prohibited from owning any companion animal.
According to Ross County Prosecutor Jeff Marks, if Colburn violates the conditions of her community control sanctions, she could spend up to 10 months in prison. She will also need to perform 200 hours of community service and pay $775.37 in restitution to the Ross County Humane Society.
Jenn Thomas, Executive Director of the Ross County Humane Society, told the Guardian, “Every day we see animal cruelty. Charges are filed and they get a slap on the wrist and we feel like nothing we do matters – nothing we do is enough. While there is nothing we could have done to prevent this I am pleased with the verdict and the sentencing. I hope that this sends a message that we will not tolerate animal neglect and cruelty in our community. The images from this case will haunt me for a long time and the pain that this dog endured during the incident and when she was laying without medical care was unnecessary and I hope that this conviction serves as just a little bit of justice for the dog we knew as Blake.”