Rupert Man Charged with Animal Abuse
RUPERT, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) On Jan. 3 the Minidoka County Sheriff's Office responded to a call regarding animal abuse.
When a sheriff's deputy arrived at the residence he found a deceased dog lying next to the front fence near Baseline Road.
When KMVT reporter, Morgan Rumpf arrived at the residence a man identifying himself as Preston Jensen who also lives at the residence refute any starvation claims.
"They're fed, they're watered, and you can see there's hay for the horse we also give him grain everything, water. So there's no reason why anybody has any right to say that we starve our dogs. Just because one died doesn't mean we starve them," said Preston Jensen.
Brian Jensen called KMVT and wanted to do a phone interview but this afternoon never answered KMVT’s calls or messages in an attempt to get his side of the story.
No neighbors answered their doors to give comment on the story either.
Around 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 5 Brian Jensen was served with criminal misdemeanor charges of committing cruelty to animals based on the dog not being provided food, water or shelter.
A probable cause affidavit detailed that a wire lead attached to the deceased dog was tangled around poles of a wooden sign and trees making mobility limited. It continues to say, an empty dish was near the dog but no food or water was found. There was also no form of shelter for the dog to escape the elements.
After filing a public record request, KMVT learned the Sheriff’s office responded to Jensen’s residence 17 times in the last year for various reasons. Only one other time before this incident regarding animals.
Jensen is scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 18 in Minidoka County on the misdemeanor charge.