COLUMBUS – A Grove City couple have been found guilty of animal cruelty charges after a three-week trial.
Douglas and Britny DeVaul faced 20 misdemeanor counts of “prohibitions concerning companion animals” for acts of animal cruelty committed at their home on Demorest Road in Grove City as well as a retail pet store, The Petting Zoo, 3578 W. Broad Street in Columbus, City Attorney Zach Klein announced Monday.
Authorities received approximately 30 complaints, many of which were filed by people who purchased puppies from the couple that died soon afterward.
The DeVauls allegedly also sold puppies under the business names of Fireside Puppies and Buckeye Puppies, Klein said.
Initial inspections uncovered minor animal care violations which were promptly corrected but at a final inspection in August 2019, Klein says authorities found that conditions situation had greatly worsened with unsanitary, overcrowded conditions and inadequate food and water.
Authorities seized approximately 190 animals, including 97 dogs, from the DeVauls Grove City property, Klein said.
Several of the animals were suffering from untreated diseases including parvovirus which is extremely lethal to dogs.
Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 5.