BATAVIA, Ohio — A 61-year-old Batavia man has been charged with nine counts related to the alleged neglect and abandonment of three pets — including one dog that died from injuries in a fight — after authorities say he left the animals without food, water or care in an apartment filled with garbage, urine and feces.
Dave Armitage is accused in a Clermont County Municipal Court complaint of violating Ohio’s animal cruelty law, which makes it illegal for anyone responsible for a pet to recklessly fail to provide it with food, water or proper care. Court officials say he now faces a total of nine counts: six counts of cruelty to companion animals and three counts of animal abandonment. A warrant has been issued for his arrest, and he can be released on his own recognizance (OR bond) on all charges.
According to the sworn statement filed deputies, they were called to an apartment around 12:30 a.m. on Friday after the pets’ owner called law enforcement.
“Upon opening the door to apt 1302, I was immediately overtaken by the heavy concentration of ammonia in the air from the urine and feces,” a deputy wrote in his report. “I saw a deceased dog on the floor in the living room that had been disemboweled, its body also torn in other places. The dog appeared to have died in the last week or so. The dog had bite wounds around its neck area. It was apparent a dog fight had occurred and this dog (Nala) was killed by the other dog (Lula).”
He continued: “The entire apartment was in shambles, garbage, clutter, and dog feces was throughout the entire apartment. One live cat and one live sable colored German Shepherd dog was also in the apartment. No food or water was found anywhere in the apartment for the animals.” No current dog registrations were found for the pets, deputies noted.
The owner told investigators she had last been at the apartment on March 15 and that her father, Armitage, had been living there since December 2025 and was supposed to care for the animals. When deputies spoke to Armitage by phone, “he stated he left for Montana on 3/13/26. He also stated he would feed and care for the dogs,” the court filing says.
Ohio law also makes it illegal to abandon a pet by leaving it without anyone to provide ongoing care. Penalties for these kinds of animal cruelty and abandonment cases can include jail time and fines. The state significantly strengthened its animal cruelty laws in 2016 with a measure known as “Goddard’s Law,” which made some of the most serious cases felonies. Even basic neglect charges like these are treated as first-degree misdemeanors, carrying up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
The surviving German Shepherd and cat were taken from the apartment. No additional details were released about their current condition or what happened to the deceased dog.
Anyone with information on Armitage’s location is asked to contact local law enforcement. The case is ongoing.
