By Fox23.com News Staff
TULSA, Okla. — A Tulsa pastor and his wife have been formally charged with two counts of cruelty to animals.
Around 8:00 p.m. on March 19, authorities said an animal control officer was called out to a home near East 121st Street South and South Erie Avenue to assist Tulsa Police officers with a case.
Police said the couple who owned the home, Craig Hagin and Mia Hagin, gave permission for police and the animal control officer to check the living conditions inside the home.
According to an arrest and booking report, the Hagins said “they knew the dogs living conditions were not ideal,” but stated they were taking care of them and feeding them regularly.
Officers said they observed unsanitary conditions inside the home, including trash, spilled food and the smell of urine on the first floor and feces covering the ground on the second floor.
Authorities said Mia Hagin informed them she was the owner of a rescue called Oklahoma Ruff Refuge. Police said Mia Hagin voluntarily surrendered the animals belonging to the rescue over to authorities.
The report stated officers believed the cat had been dead for some time.
Following these findings, authorities said they believed there was enough probable cause to arrest both Craig Hagin and Mia Hagin on charges of animal cruelty due to what authorities called the unsanitary living conditions inside their home.
Craig Hagin has previously served as co-pastor at Rhema Bible Church in Broken Arrow.
The animals from the home were taken into custody by Tulsa Animal Services, who stated they’ve been working with the Humane Society of Tulsa to rehome some of the animals and with Animal Aid of Tulsa to provide one of the animals with medical care.
