Ohio man charged with strangling cat after housing complex allegedly said he had too many

NEWARK, Ohio – An Ohio man is facing charges after he allegedly strangled his cat to death because he had one more than his housing complex allowed.

Dennis Engard, 68, of Newark was arrested Friday and charged with one count each of prohibitions concerning companion animals and falsification, both first-degree misdemeanors. On Tuesday, he entered a not guilty plea in Licking County Municipal Court.

According to a statement of facts, the Newark dog warden received a phone call from a woman claiming Engard had strangled his cat, then threw the cat into the dumpster. The woman added Engard had three cats inside his residence, but their housing complex only allowed two.

"(The woman) advised they had Mr. Engard on video carrying a trash bag out of his apartment to the elevator, entering the elevator, exiting the back doors with the trash bag and then taking the trash bag to the dumpster," a report statement says. "Once Mr. Engard got to the dumpster he threw the trash bag into the dumpster and went back inside the apartment building."

When interviewed, Engard allegedly told the dog warden that management told him he couldn't have three cats in his residence, so he had to get rid of one. Initially, Engard reportedly said he turned the cat loose outside via a trash bag because he lent his pet carrier to someone.

When he gave the dog warden a written statement, the warden reported noticing blood on it. Asking if that was blood on the paper, he said Engard showed him his finger was bleeding and said it happened when he was trying to catch the cat.

After being shown a photo of an orange cat the dog warden removed from the dumpster, Engard allegedly told him he killed it.

"I had to get rid of it because it could die anyway when I caught it. I didn't want to do it," Engard reportedly said.

Court records indicate Engard was released on his own recognizance on Tuesday.

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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Ohio man charged with strangling cat after housing complex allegedly said he had too many