Man convicted of neglecting pit bull

SANDPOINT — A Priest River man has been convicted of neglecting a pit bull terrier that was found earlier this year on a sidewalk, emaciated and unable to stand.

Jesse Lee Voight was convicted of animal cruelty following a magistrate court trial on April 8. Voight’s roommate and the dog’s original owner, Jessie Bradley Gene Gray, was acquitted of the same charge that day. Gray testified he gave the dog to Voight after he adopted it.

Judge Debra Heise ordered Voight to pay $300 restitution to the Priest River Animal Rescue and placed him on probation for two years, court documents indicate.

Gray adopted the brindle-colored pit bull called Rufus from the animal rescue in October of last year, a Priest River Police report said. A passerby found the dog as a stray near Priest River Elementary on Jan. 31.

Rufus, according to court documents, was seven months old and weighted 51 pounds when he was adopted. The dog weighed 45 pounds when he was found.

“This is a decrease in over 10 percent of Rufus’ body weight during the months of a growing puppy from a seven-month-old to an 11-month-old,” Priest River Animal Rescue said in a statement.

A veterinarian who examined Rufus concluded the dog should have weighed 61 pounds when he was found, animal rescue volunteers said.

Neither Gray, 24, nor Voight, 26, seemed to be aware of Rufus’ emaciation and lethargy, the police report said.

The vet’s examination revealed Rufus’ liver was affected from malnutrition, but a follow-up exam found the organ was functioning properly after the dog began receiving proper nourishment, animal rescue volunteers said.

Rufus gained 18 pounds during his nine weeks in foster care and has since bonded with his new owner, who describes the dog as happy and eager to be around people.

“The adopter met Rufus while he was in foster care and stated that she fell in love with him because he is so sweet and affectionate,” Priest River Animal Rescue said.