Editor’s note: This story contains graphic descriptions and images of reported animal cruelty.
The Athens Police Department is investigating a report for animal cruelty that occurred sometime between Thursday night and Friday morning.
APD received a call on Friday afternoon from a person who was seeking information about where to report an animal cruelty crime against a wild opossum, according to the media release.
In a call to APD on Friday, a woman said her son contacted her about an opossum behaving “oddly” by rubbing its face and pacing in the parking lot of the Southeast Ohio History Center, 24 W. State St. The woman wanted to know if she needed to file a police report or contact another wildlife organization.
She called Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Wildlife Rehabilitator Gina Jackson and was told to have her son bring it in. Jackson said the opossum had been deliberately tortured and burned by someone.
The opossum, named Athena, was about eight months old and had severe burns all over. Athena had burns all the way around her neck about two inches wide. Her ear and eye was burned out. Jackson said her mouth, tongue, throat and roof of her mouth were completely black and burned. Her lips were burned and a hole was burned into her cheek.
“There wasn’t even blistering — it was too high of heat,” Jackson said. “It just completely fried her mouth.”
Other than burn injuries, Athena was healthy with no broken bones or scratches. Jackson said her eye was planned to be removed on Tuesday and that her mouth would likely heal soon, as the inside of the mouth usually heals quickly.
Athena was walking around and ate wet cat food when she was brought to Jackson. She was then sedated and on heavy pain medication. The possum was kept asleep most of the time until she died on Monday morning.
“I didn’t sleep for a couple of days,” Jackson said. “This really was the most horrific thing I’ve seen.”
The woman who called APD originally contacted the ODNR in Athens. On Monday, City Prosecutor Jessica Branner asked APD to pick up the case.
APD is investigating the case and are taking the matter seriously. APD Chief Tom Pyle said in the media release that the department’s initial focus is to factually corroborate the claim that the animal was tortured.
After hearing the complaint Monday, one of the APD night shift officers said he believes that he had moved the same animal out of the roadway next to the Historical Society at around 1 a.m. on Friday. According to the report from Friday, the animal appeared to have been struck by a car and was believed to be dead.
In the media release, Pyle said he has read “significantly inaccurate information and speculation” on social media in regards to the animal cruelty report. Except for city social media pages, Pyle said social media is not a reliable source of information for the operations of APD.
“Any claims of investigative actions that are alleged to have occurred between Friday and yesterday at 3 p.m. are inaccurate as our department did not start investigating the matter until 3 p.m. yesterday,” Pyle said in the release. “No person or organization (fraternity or otherwise) has been implicated or identified as being involved.”
Jackson said the OU student that brought in the opossum said it was found in the yard of a fraternity house. She said she doesn't know the layout of Athens or the university.
Pyle said in the release any persons claiming to have been made aware of what has been found in a fraternity house is also not true. No fraternity has been implicated or is currently subject to this investigation.
The reports that Ohio University was involved in the matter were also inaccurate. Pyle notified OU Police Department Tuesday, and OUPD offered their assistance, if needed. OUPD also released a statement supporting Pyle’s media release and are unaware of a connection to the university.
Any reports of video footage that has been obtained before Monday has also been deemed inaccurate. APD is currently looking for any and all footage for this case. No footage has been secured yet, and the department is uncertain if any exists, Pyle said in the release.
“I assure you that if our agency determines this animal was tortured we will do our level best to identify any person responsible and charge them to the fullest extent of the law,” Pyle said in the media release. “We have been in contact with ODNR and will collaborate where appropriate.”
According to Ohio Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, the maximum penalty in Ohio for animal cruelty is 90 days in jail and a $750 fine.
