Man Accused in Animal Hanging Incident

GILMER — An Upshur County man is arrested for animal cruelty. According to KETK, deputies were called to Anthony Bassler’s home north of Ore City to investigate. When deputies arrived, they found a starved donkey and a goat hanging from a tree on the property. Bassler told them he was using the donkey as bait and it was already dead when he put it in the tree. According to law enforcement, “He did offer an explanation to what had taken place, but the evidence we saw at the scene did not support his story…and other witness statements did not corroborate his statements either.” Bassler was arrested in January 2009 on animal cruelty charges. A donkey and goat taken from his property were turned over to the SPCA.