ROLAND, Okla. — The Animal Control Supervisor for the Town of Roland has been accused of animal cruelty after a dog was found dead in an animal care facility.
Kayla Barnes, 32, is accused of felony animal cruelty, and a warrant for her arrest was issued on Sept. 16. Court documents said the crime is punishable by a fine up to $5,000 or five years of imprisonment, or both.
A probable cause affidavit said that on Aug. 20, the Roland Police Department (RPD) requested assistance from the District Attorney's Office Violent Crimes and Drug Task Force for an animal cruelty case following the death of a husky.
A town employee had reported that the husky was found dead in a locked pen at the animal care facility belonging to the town, the affidavit said.
Investigators discovered the roll-up door on the facility was shut, and that no dogs had food or water. Court documents said there were 15 dogs in the facility including the dead husky.
Barnes had been employed by the town since November 2021 and was "solely responsible for the care, custody, and overall management of the animals within the facility," court documents said.
On Aug. 21, Barnes told investigators that she did not feed or water the animals at the shelter over the weekend days of Aug. 10 and 11 as well as Aug. 17 and 18, according to the affidavit.
Court documents list the following as recorded weather reports for the days the dogs went without food and water:
- Aug. 10 — 87 degrees with 44% humidity
- Aug. 11 — 75 degrees with 82% humidity
- Aug. 17 — 93 degrees with 56% humidity
- Aug. 18 — 100 degrees with 48% humidity, with a "feels like" temperature of 115.
5NEWS reached out to the Town of Roland and did not hear back.
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