Washington County controller's dead dog prompts investigation, records show

North Strabane police said they are investigating a possible case of animal cruelty after removing a dead dog from the home of Washington County’s top elected financial officer.

A search warrant affidavit said Washington Area Humane Society received a report that a dog owned by Controller April Sloane had died because of neglect.

The humane society forwarded the tip to North Strabane police, along with an image of the dog, Thor, in “deplorable conditions” and another showing the dog to be deceased or near death. A search warrant was executed at Sloane’s home Wednesday.

Messages left Thursday for Sloane were not immediately returned.

The affidavit said Sloane adopted Thor on April 23, 2021. North Strabane police said a witness interviewed this week reported that Thor had died Nov. 27.

“(The witness) stated that Thor had been kept in deplorable conditions, and at times not been taken care of for days at a time,” the court filing said.

The witness reported asking Sloane to take the dog to the veterinarian, but she declined, police said.

On Wednesday, North Strabane police said they met with Sloane at her home in North Strabane.

“Sloane stated that Thor, her dog, did pass away due to not being properly cared for,” the affidavit said.

Sloane told officers that Thor’s body was in the basement of her home, according to police.

As officers spoke with Sloane, they saw a Ring camera in the living room. Sloane said it was motion-activated, and that Thor died in that room.

Detectives removed Thor’s body, as well as the Ring camera as part of their search.

No charges have been filed against Sloane as of early Thursday afternoon, but the search warrant lists aggravated cruelty to animals, causing serious bodily injury or death, as the crime being investigated.