Two charged with Felony Mistreatment of an Animal after Puppy found in apartment garbage
WEST SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA - C'eanna Royster and Nahshon Bland Jr. were both charged with Felony Mistreatment of an Animal, with Mr. Bland Jr. getting an additional count of Felony Mistreatment of an Animal (Torture or Cruelty to Pet or Companion Animal) (Death or Great Bodily Harm) after he advised Ms. Royster her puppy was deceased, put the dog in a pillowcase, and sent it down the garbage chute.
On March 9, 2023, West Saint Paul Police Officers responded to an apartment complex in West Saint Paul around 9:12 AM after a maintenance worker reported finding a dog in the garbage unit. According to the Criminal Complaint, the employee was removing the trash compactor's "ram" when he heard barking from the garbage. According to the employee, the trash compactor is below the trash chute and is automatically activated when garbage enters the bin. The worker dug through the trash until he located an estimated 3-month-old Shih Tzu puppy. The puppy was reported to look dirty, weak, lethargic, and had defecated bloody stools. Law enforcement transported the puppy to an animal hospital, where they determined it had Parvo Virus.
According to the animal hospital, Parvo in puppies is unusual since most are vaccinated for it. While treatable and highly successful, the treatment can cost around $3,000. Despite the emergency treatment, the puppy collapsed around 4 PM later that day and was confirmed deceased shortly after. The cause of death, according to the veterinarian, was "likely due to starvation and lack of ability to maintain in the presence of the parvovirus, which caused the intractable bloody diarrhea and almost no immune system/400 white blood cells and inability to maintain blood sugar due to losses from bleeding intestinal tract."
West Saint Paul Police Department Officers reviewed the apartment complex video and determined that the two individuals involved were C'eanna Royster and Nahshon Bland Jr. In the video, the two were seen walking down the hall to the trash chute with Mr. Bland carrying a pillow case that appeared to be weighted. The two are seen stopping in front of the trash room door, with the pillowcase visibly moving, before they enter the room and exit a short time later with Mr. Bland empty-handed.
Police contacted Ms. Royster, who said she got the puppy from a breeder she found online. Around March 7, 2023, Ms. Royster reported that her puppy was sick, so she took him to the vet, who diagnosed the dog with Parvo. The cost of the treatment was said to be around $3,500. She said she contacted the breeder and explained what had occurred, so Mr. Bland came to her apartment and advised her the puppy was deceased. He put the puppy in the pillowcase and put it in the trash chute. Ms. Royster said that even though Mr. Bland said it was deceased, she saw the pillowcase moving with the puppy inside it as he put it down the trash chute.
Nahshon Bland Jr. was charged with two felony counts, as we previously mentioned:
Felony Mistreatment of an Animal (Torture or Cruelty to Pet or Companion Animal) (Death or Great Bodily Harm)
Maximum sentence: 0-2 years and/or $1,500 to $5,000 fineFelony Mistreatment of an Animal
Maximum sentence: 0-2 years and/or $1,500 to $5,000 fine
C'eanna Royster was charged with one felony count as previously mentioned:
Felony Mistreatment of an Animal
Maximum sentence: 0-2 years and/or $1,500 to $5,000 fine
Photo by Grant Durr on Unsplash
