On May 9, 2022, Community Service Officer Ricky Thompson was notified about the presence of a male tan dog that was tangled in its own cable in the back yard of a house in the 3100 block of 30th Drive in Parsons.

The call was reported by an Evergy employee, who also reported the animal was in poor health. When CSO Thompson arrived he was able to contact neighbors who stated the owners have not been at the house for at least a couple of weeks. The grass was also close to a one foot tall, and it was soon apparent to CSO Thompson that the dog had been left and neglected.

CSO Thompson was able to save the dog who was identified by its dog tag that the name was Midus. Midus was tangled in the cable and was so thin that its ribs were showing clearly and there was also an evident loss of muscle mass. CSO Thompson found no evidence of food in the yard. He only found water for the animal that was in bowls suspected of being filled by the large amounts of rain recently.

CSO Thompson is working with officers to locate Midus's owner to get information for formal charging of Animal Cruelty through the court system. Midus was taken to Parsons Pet Hospital for treatment of neglect and checked for signs of physical abuse.

Parsons Police Chief Robert Spinks said, "as we wait for the official medical report from Dr. Eva Dudek, we hope that Midus makes a full recovery. We have the name of the suspected owner and will be pursuing all avenues to close this case quickly. Animals rely on us to be good humans and caretakers. We really should embrace the pet guardianship mentality when we have animal companions. It is heartbreaking to walk into these yards and see the neglect of an animal who does not understand what it did wrong. I hope that everyone in Parsons can be the best pet guardian for their companions as possible."

CSO Thompson said, "the scene was pretty gut-wrenching. When I left the yard to make a phone call Midus howled until I returned because he was afraid of being left alone again. When an animal is that neglected it really hits home for those of us who are animal lovers. I just ask that we take better care of our pets and if we can't care for them, please contact me to discuss options for care rather than abandonment."

This continues to be an on-going investigation and citizens are encouraged to "See It, Hear It, Report It." If anyone has any further information on this incident or any other criminal activity, please contact the Parsons Police Department at 421-7060 or call the Tip Line at 421-7057 or email at tips@parsonspd.com.

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