SOUTH CAROLINA — A man and woman from Myrtle Beach were arrested Tuesday in connection with an animal neglect investigation involving two malnourished dogs, according to Horry County booking records.
Brandon P. Donaldson, 30, was charged with two counts related to the rescue of animals, while Keyera Lynn Nutaitis, 31, was charged with two counts of care and treatment violations.
According to an affidavit, officers responded on Oct. 30 to an animal abuse complaint on Ivystone Drive in the Myrtle Beach area. A male dog named Toast and a female dog named Kiba had been surrendered to a third party who reported serious concerns about their condition. Documents state both dogs were “visually emaciated with every rib showing through their fur as well as their hip bones.”
The incident report says Nutaitis told a witness she was “running” from a domestic situation and needed a place to leave the dogs. The witness later contacted Horry County police due to concerns over their health. Warrants indicate the dogs had not been provided with food or water and were so hungry that they tried to eat from the garbage.
Nutaitis reportedly claimed she had not been living with the dogs since her domestic violence arrest in early October and said Donaldson had been responsible for their care. However, the report states Donaldson was “apparently mistreating the dogs and intentionally not feeding them while keeping them kenneled for weeks on end.”
Investigators said both dogs had been in the couple’s care for the past three months and had been adopted from the Horry County Animal Care Center at the end of July.
Donaldson and Nutaitis are being held at J. Reuben Long Detention Center on $2,000 bond each. The investigation is ongoing.
