BEDFORD — An Oolitic man is facing animal cruelty charges after allegedly abandoning two severely ill and malnourished dogs while moving out of a Bedford apartment.
Charles Garland, 56, has been charged with neglect of a vertebrate animal and abandonment of a vertebrate animal following an investigation by the Bedford Police Department.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Officer Sarah Haluda, police were dispatched around 7:00 p.m. on September 12, 2026, to an apartment building in the 1000 block of 17th Street following reports of loose, ailing dogs. Upon arrival, officers located a small, severely emaciated black puppy covered in fleas, along with a small brown dog cowering on a porch and struggling to move. Bystanders told police the brown dog was extremely ill and had urinated blood prior to officers’ arrival.
The property manager told police she responded to the building after learning a tenant was moving out and planning to leave two dogs behind. Upon confronting the tenant, identified as Garland, an associate released the dogs from inside the residence.
While Garland denied owning the animals, officers reviewed body-worn camera footage from a previous call at the apartment on August 14, 2026, which clearly showed the puppy emerging from Garland’s doorway. An associate assisting Garland with the move later admitted to police that Garland had been keeping the dogs for at least a month, but that his new residence did not allow pets.
Animal Control took custody of both animals at the scene. The small brown dog died overnight while in the care of Animal Control due to its condition. The surviving puppy was placed under the care of animal welfare officials.
Bedford Police have requested an arrest warrant for Garland through the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the probable cause affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
