GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – A Howard man facing animal neglect charges was not present in court on Monday.
22-year-old Trinton Menomin faces seven misdemeanor counts after police were called to his house in January and found dogs abandoned outside in the freezing cold weather.
The seven misdemeanor counts include four charges against him for mistreating animals, two related to drug possession, and one for obstructing an officer.
Menomin has pleaded not guilty.
Officers were originally called to the residence because of barking dogs.
Upon arrival, they discovered that Menomin had allegedly left two dogs out in the seven-degree temperature without adequate shelter, food, or water
Police received 55 complaints about the home since Oct. 11 and the house was deemed a nuisance property, according to the criminal complaint.
Deputies found two Great Danes in the fenced-in backyard during the latest call and officers say that one of the dogs was in distress and its ribs were visible.
Brown County Animal Control Officer Monica Hoff says in a report that Great Danes do not handle cold weather well.
She says hypothermia or frostbite can set in within 20 or 30 minutes during conditions such as the one in which they were found.
Investigators found many of the home’s windows open and a month’s worth of mail in the mailbox, according to the criminal complaint.
Officers say they discovered a strong odor of urine, feces, and rotting garbage inside the home.
A dead lizard was found in a tank in the living room, which they say was left uncared for intentionally.
Menomin showed up as authorities were inside the house and started yelling, “Why are you in my house, do you have a warrant?”
Despite resistance, officers were able to take Menomin into custody, according to the criminal complaint.
