Lyon County deputies have arrested two people for alleged animal cruelty.
Lyon County Detective Sergeant Jacob Welsh says deputies and Lyon County Animal Control served an order issued by Hartford Municipal Court at 303 East Grand in Hartford on Wednesday. The order was to take several dogs living at the residence for nuisance issues and also a concern about an unauthorized kennel or the number of animals allowed in a home.
Once deputies made contact, they say the dogs’ living conditions were not acceptable so they obtained search warrants and took all 17 dogs, including 14 that were of a wolf-dog breed, from the property.
Homeowner Thomas Staggs was arrested on warrants unrelated to the event, while his wife, Rhonda Staggs, was arrested on a separate warrant and suspicion of animal cruelty. Deputies are seeking animal cruelty charges against both, but the Lyon County Attorney’s Office will decide whether formal charges will be filed in that regard.
