BY JOURNAL TIMES STAFF | Posted: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 12:00 am
WIND LAKE - A 49-year-old Wind Lake man was charged Tuesday with misdemeanor mistreatment of an animal and bail jumping after his dog was found malnourished and suffering in his home.
Ricky W. Mijokovich of 25005 W. Loomis Road faces up to 18 months in prison and $20,000 in fines if convicted. He is being held on a $500 cash bond.
According to the criminal complaint, Racine County sheriff's deputies were called to Mijokovich's home in November by his landlord's brother. The report said his landlord had recently died and his brother was taking care of his financial affairs, including contacting the tenants of his brother's rental properties.
The man told deputies he had not been able to contact Mijokovich, but heard a dog barking in his residence. The man was worried about the animal, because no one had seen Mijokovich in several days. He went inside and found the dog malnourished and sick. Reports said there didn't appear to be any food or water for the animal, and there was dog feces all over the house.
Deputies called the Wind Lake Animal Control Warden, who took the dog to a kennel. The warden told authorities the dog appeared to be 20 to 30 pounds underweight, had some type of severe skin condition and fleas.