Dog paired with inmate in prison program found dead in cell

An animal rescue group says a dog placed in a program that pairs Ohio inmates with foster dogs was found dead in a cell in a violent death.

Joseph’s Legacy, an animal rescue charity in southwestern Ohio, says one of its dogs, Evie, was found dead at Warren Correctional Institution late last month.

The charity said a necropsy showed that the dog, a 4-year-old German Shepherd-Elkhound mix, died of “blunt force trauma to her abdomen.”

A spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction said Tuesday the agency has “zero tolerance” for animal abuse.

JoEllen Smith said the prison system will conduct a thorough investigation at Warren Correctional Institution as well as review animal programs at other prisons.

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