McCandless man accused of animal cruelty after trying to give 2 dogs back to ex-partner

A McCandless man faces animal cruelty charges after police say two English bulldogs he wanted to give to an ex-partner were found to be in such poor condition that one was euthanized.

McCandless police filed the charges against William R. Duessel, 48, on May 14.

According to a criminal complaint, Duessel went to the police on May 4 because his ex-partner had agreed to take the dogs, which they had together before separating six years ago and which he was otherwise going to surrender to a shelter.

Because the woman has an active protection from abuse order against Duessel, they were looking for a place to hold the dogs from when he dropped them off until she picked them up, the complaint states. A McCandless sergeant allowed them to use the township’s kennels.

When Duessel arrived with the dogs, an officer saw both were struggling to walk, the complaint states. After taking custody of the dogs, the officer saw that the dogs’ nails were overgrown so much that they were walking with the nails under the pads of their feet.

The woman told police that Duessel had warned her that the dogs were not in the best of condition, the complaint states. After seeing them, she told the officer that she would need to immediately take them to a veterinarian.

Police received records on May 8 for one dog, “Tonka.” They said the dog was suffering from ingrown toenails causing abscessation and pitting edema and had abdominal pain, an infection of the external ear canal, and fleas, according to the complaint. Based on its quality of life, the dog was euthanized.

On May 13, the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office told McCandless police that the need to euthanize Tonka because of its injuries and neglect constituted aggravated cruelty to animals, and advised charges of neglect and cruelty to animals for both dogs, the complaint states.

Care for both dogs cost Duessel’s ex-partner about $982, according to the complaint.

Dussel did not have an attorney listed in court records.

McCandless police charged Dussel with a felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals, two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals and two summary counts of neglect of animals.

He was arraigned May 14 and released on a nonmonetary bond, according to court records. His preliminary hearing before District Judge Matthew J. Brungo is scheduled for May 27.