A Lake O’the Pines man was scheduled to appear today before a judge to determine whether two animals were treated cruelly after deputies found a third animal — a donkey — fatally hanged on the man’s property in the Camp Joy community.

Anthony Bassler faces court seizure of a donkey and a goat taken Friday by Upshur County sheriff’s deputies investigating an animal cruelty report that led them to find the dead donkey.

Investigators said the seized donkey appeared to be starving and that a white goat taken from the land also was in poor condition.

Sheriff’s Capt. Gary Roberts said the dead donkey was “literally hanged,” distinguishing its death from accidental entanglement in a leash or rope.

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