One felony charge of cruelty to animals has been filed against a Konawa man in the District Court of Seminole County.

According to the felony information, David Dean Eastman, 70, “cruelty to animals on or between the 1st day of August 2021 and the 30th day of August, 2021, by willfully and cruelly allowing sixteen (16) dogs to be malnutrition, neglected, having open wounds and failure to provide veterinary medical care at (address)”

An affidavit for arrest filed in the case states that Konawa Police Officer Erica Holter was contacted by Animal Control Officer (ACO) Shawna Brake about the removal of eight dogs from Eastman’s residence. Officer Holter was forwarded pictures of the eight animals and observed they had no hair, wounds, and some were emaciated. The dogs had been taken by a rescuer and were at a veterinary hospital.

The affidavit states that Eastman was residing in a vehicle in the driveway of the residence and had been for some time. Eastman refused to allow the ACO to see the conditions in the house where the dogs were residing. He was also requesting two dogs be returned to him.

Eastman was known to the police from a similar, previous issue where a stray female that had puppies was found and it was determined to belong to Eastman. After confirming it was Eastman’s, the animal was surrendered to the rescuer, who then took it to a veterinarian hospital.

According to a statement from the rescuer included in the affidavit, Eastman had asked for a few days to think about it when she offered to take his dogs on Aug. 25. She picked up 8 dogs – 2 males and 6 females - on Aug. 29 after he called and told her to come get them. She did not go into the house but could smell a strong odor of feces. She could also see feces had been tracked onto the front porch from inside the house. When the dogs were brought out, they were severely thin and had no fur and open wounds were all over their bodies, and some of them were blind.

According to a statement from the veterinarian included in the affidavit, after observing four dogs brought in by the rescuer, it was determined the dogs were somewhat underweight and not at all socialized. They were hairless and possibly have either a skin infection or demodex mange. Without observing where they were living, it couldn’t be conclusively defined as abuse. However, it would be considered as a possible case of neglect. The animals were in definite need of veterinary care, and it doesn’t appear the owner had made any effort to treat them.

Bond was set at $3,000.