Comment on Pet shop owner barred from selling pets at Nitro business

By Staff reports A Putnam County magistrate ruled Thursday to prohibit the owner of Missy's Four paws from allowing others to sell pets at her shop in Nitro. Melissa Jo Rucker was charged with 47 counts of animal neglect/cruelty in May, following a search of her home and business where scores of malnourished, diseased or dehydrated dogs were seized by authorities. Rucker was in court Thursday, where Magistrate Kylene Brown ruled to update the conditions of Rucker's bond to no longer allow her or others to sell pets at her shop. In a motion to amend Rucker's bond conditions dated June 27, assistant prosecuting attorney Jennifer Scragg Karr said "the state is of the belief that the defendant may attempt to engage in animal neglect or the commerce of obtaining and selling for profit other animals while this matter is going on." Karr wrote that the state moved to no longer permit Rucker "to obtain animals or engage in any manner of commerce with regard to animals." Rucker still will be allowed to perform grooming services at her shop under the new bond conditions. There is no trial date set in the case, Karr wrote in the motion.