When law enforcement received a report of an emaciated dog and checked on the dog’s welfare, they found a dog in a small pen with no food or freshwater.

Pamela A. Koontz, 33, Bloomfield, is accused of cruelty to an animal, a Class A misdemeanor.

Deputy Harvey Holt of the Greene County Sheriff's Department, the lead investigator on this case, was dispatched to assist the Bloomfield Police Department on June 12 after the sheriff's department received a report from S.A.F.E. Animal Rescue of an emaciated dog located on South Lewis Street in Bloomfield. The reporting party provided a photograph of the dog and asked for an officer to do a welfare check.

When Deputy Holt arrived on the scene, he saw a small dog pen on the northwest corner of the property which was the residence of Pamela Koontz who said she did have an outside dog. She gave Deputy Holt permission to go into the backyard to check on the dog and she allegedly said the dog was not eating dog food and had not eaten for several days.

Deputy Holt reported he found a small 4 foot by 4 foot dog area in the backyard. The dog’s water bowl had about 1/2 cup of green water inside but the bowl was tipped on its side and did not appear to have any fresh water in it and there were no signs of food in the pen.

The dog was a small female mixed breed with all ribs and hip bones pronounced and visible through the skin. The dog was mobile and jumped on the side of the fence, barking at the deputy. After years of experience in 19 years of police K9 training including K9 first aid, the deputy reported the dog appeared to be suffering from a possible internal parasite or heart condition and was on the low grade of emaciation. He took photographs.

Koontz said the dog named Poppy was two years old and had been seen by a veterinarian a year ago. She said the dog was current on all vaccinations but she could not provide any proof. She confirmed the dog had not been to any vets recently.

On June 13, Bloomfield Town Marshal Ken Tharp reported that Koontz did not take the dog to the vet on June 12 as she was ordered, but she was at Heal Pet Care in Bloomfield to have the dog treated on June 13.

Deputy Holt received the medical records for Poppy from Heal Pet Care dated from April of 2020 until June 13, 2022. The records showed Poppy was a two year and five month old mixed breed that currently weighed 16 pounds and was due for an annual rabies vaccination on April 21 but had not received one. Poppy was overdue for rabies vaccinations by over one year. Medical records showed that Koontz had been sent reminders to have Poppy vaccinated in March and April of 2021.

In the medical notes at Heal Pet Care, the veterinarian that treated Poppy noted that Poppy was severely emaciated. She also said when they offered her food she readily ate it as if she were ravenous and she ate both wet and dry food without issues. Deputy Holt said this contradicted the statement by Koontz that Poppy would not eat dog food.

Poppy was diagnosed and treated for hookworms and heartworms.

When speaking with Marshall Tharp, the veterinarian agreed the dog’s physical state was a result of neglect since she was able to feed Poppy without issue.

On June 21 when Deputy Holt checked on Poppy, Heal Pet Care said Poppy was doing great and had gained approximately 20% of her body weight (3 to 4 pounds) since being surrendered and they have not had any issues with Poppy not eating since they started the treatment on June 13.

A criminal case was filed against Koontz last Friday and she is being summoned to appear in Greene Superior Court for an initial hearing on August 22 on a charge of cruelty to an animal, a Class A misdemeanor.