PIKE COUNTY, Ohio — On January 28, 2023, the Pike County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint of animal cruelty at 379 Wynn Rd. in Piketon, Ohio. In response, a search warrant was executed and a shocking discovery was made. A deceased dog was found tied to a tractor nearby the roadway and appeared to have been beaten.
Further investigation revealed 80 other dogs on the property in various states of malnutrition and emaciation, along with over 40 deceased dogs, several deceased chickens, and one live pig. The resident of the property, 62-year-old Wyndan Skye, was taken into custody and arrested for cruelty to companion animals, a felony of the fifth degree.
According to Sheriff Tracy D. Evans, “The Ross County Humane Society, Pike County Humane Agents, Pet Pals volunteers, and the Pike County Commissioners all arrived on scene to assist with this investigation.” Many of the surviving animals were taken to remote locations for care and medical assessment by a veterinarian. Two of the deceased animals were taken for necropsy.
The investigation is ongoing and will be submitted to the Pike County Prosecutor’s Office for further charges and presented to the next term of the Pike County Grand Jury. Skye is currently being held on a $40,000 bond and is set to appear in Pike County Court on February 6, 2023, at 10 a.m.