Galesburg Man Charged with Felony and Misdemeanor Animal Cruelty

A Galesburg man has been charged with felony and misdemeanor animal cruelty after a Knox County Sheriff’s Office investigation into animal neglect led them to 26-year-old Christopher Ramirez. The investigation led deputies to an abandoned residence, where they found a dog that appeared to be very thin, locked in a kennel with no food or water. A search warrant for the residence was executed on March 4, 2024, and a dog and two cats were rescued from inside the residence.  They were taken to the Galesburg Animal Hospital for medical care.  The dog and two cats were severely malnourished and had no food or water inside the residence.  The Knox County Sheriff’s Office said it is unknown how long the dog and cats were left alone without proper care. Christopher Ramirez was arrested and booked into the Knox County Jail on March 8th, where he was charged with Aggravated Animal Cruelty (Class 4 Felony), three counts of Animal Cruelty (Class A Misdemeanor), and three counts of failure of Owners Duties (Class B Misdemeanor). His First Appearance hearing is scheduled for April 10, 2024, at 9 AM.