Salisbury man convicted on felony animal abuse charges

SALISBURY, Md. – A Salisbury man was convicted and sentenced on animal abuse charges earlier this week.

On Monday, 41-year-old Ryan Shull pleaded guilty to aggravated animal cruelty by starvation.

During the morning hours of June 12, 2020, animal control officers responded to complaints of neighbors and found two dogs on Shull’s property in deplorable conditions. We’re told that Charlie, a brown rottweiler, and Havoc, a gray pit bull, were housed in a steel kennel with a doghouse designed for one dog. The kennel was reportedly covered in feces to the point that both animals had begun using the top of the dog house to defecate. Both dogs were also underfed; their ribs and hips were visible from a distance.

Both were seized by the Wicomico County Humane Society and found to be approximately 20 pounds underweight. Charlie and Havoc have made a full recovery and have been adopted by community members.

Shull was sentenced to two years behind bars, which was suspended. Shull was placed on two years of probation, during which he has been ordered to pay $2,905 in restitution to the Wicomico Humane Society and may not own, possess, or reside with animals.