Man accused of lying about puppy’s death charged with neglect

The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region says a man who lied about seeing someone toss a puppy out of a moving vehicle is being charged with neglect in the animal’s death.

On the morning of April 19, Jordan Bellows brought a puppy to HSPPR and said he witnessed her being thrown from a vehicle on Garden of the Gods road. Veterinary staff immediately attempted to manage the puppy’s pain and stabilize her. She had blood in her chest and was coughing up blood. The team did a chest tap to remove air and blood leaking into her chest cavity. Despite efforts, due to the extent of her internal injuries, she didn’t survive.

Animal Law Enforcement officers canvased the area around Garden of the Gods Road for evidence, but during their questioning of Bellows, several discrepancies materialized. When officers told Bellows they reached out to the media for help finding a suspect, he admitted he made up the story.

“It was a lie,” Bellows told ALE officers. “I did not see the dog thrown from a car. She is my dog.”

Bellows claimed he came home from work the evening before and found his puppy, Zoey, in his backyard struggling to breathe. He said he doesn’t know what happened to her In the morning, Bellows brought her to HSPPR and made up the story about seeing her thrown from a vehicle.

Zoey’s body was sent to Colorado State University in hopes a necropsy would reveal what had caused the internal injuries. Unfortunately, the necropsy shed no further light on what happened. With no additional leads, ALE charged Bellows with a Class 1 Misdemeanor of animal neglect because he did not seek treatment for Zoey despite the severity of her condition. The maximum penalty for a Class 1 penalty is a $5,000 fine and/or 18 months imprisonment.

“Animal Law Enforcement Investigators worked tirelessly to determine what caused Zoey’s death; however the facts and evidence obtained through the investigation were inconclusive,” said director of Animal Law Enforcement Joe Stafford. “Investigators were able to confirm that Zoey had sustained life-threatening injuries sometime on April 18 and that Bellows became aware of her serious condition, but failed to provide care that could have saved her life or, at a minimum, alleviated her suffering.”

If your pet is sick or injured, immediately seek veterinary care from your primary clinic or an emergency veterinary clinic, Stafford urged. Many facilities offer financing programs if you cannot presently afford care. In cases of extreme illness or injury, humane euthanasia may be performed by qualified veterinary staff.