Aurora woman charged with felony animal abuse after dog starves to death

AURORA, Mo. — A woman from Aurora has been charged with two animal-related criminal charges after police said her dog died of starvation, while another one of her dogs almost died from starvation, as well.

According to court dockets, Michele Gettman, born 1954, is charged with felony animal abuse — second offense or by torture while the animal was alive. She's also charged with misdemeanor animal neglect.

The probable cause statement Aurora-Marionville Police Department (AMPD) officers were dispatched to an Aurora residence on July 9 for a report of a deceased animal.

Upon arrival, police witnessed a deceased dog in plain view in the residence's backyard. The dog appeared to have died from starvation, according to the statement.

The statement says officers witnessed there was another dog at the residence who also showed signs of starvation and was attempting to consume the dead dog.

The next day, police made contact with Gettman. She told law enforcement that she checks on the dogs daily. She also said she'd been unable to feed the dogs due to a lack of money and food.

Per the statement, Gettman changed her story and said she had been out of town for two weeks.

"The deceased dog appeared to have suffered greatly prior to a death caused by starvation," the statement says. "The second dog appeared to be actively suffering from starvation."

Gettman is due in court on Sept. 4. If convicted, she faces up to four years in prison.