Belington Man Arrested On Animal Cruelty Charges

On October 23, A Belington resident has been taken into custody on charges of animal cruelty after authorities discovered a dog left alone in deplorable conditions for at least four days, according to the Barbour County Sheriff’s Department.

Thomas Griffith, 42, was arrested following a series of attempts by deputies to serve him an arrest warrant on an unrelated charge. When officers arrived at his residence, they observed a small brown dog inside, appearing neglected and in distress.

The dog reportedly suffered from visible fur loss and had been forced to relieve itself throughout the home, which deputies described in court documents as being in an “atrocious state.” Deputies noted that the environment was "unsafe and unfit" for any animal, emphasizing that the animal was left to live in squalor for an extended period.

After finally reaching Griffith, deputies say he indicated he would not return to his home for at least another week and that no one would be checking on the dog in his absence.

Griffith is now being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on charges of animal cruelty, along with an additional charge of obstructing an officer related to a separate case.