WARREN The case of a Warren man accused of hurting a dog at the Healthy Hearts & Paws Project is now in the hands of a grand jury.

The grand jury must now decide whether or not there is enough evidence to indict 40-year-old Benjamin Talanca on charges of animal cruelty, assault and burglary.

The charges stem from an incident at the Healthy Hearts & Paws Project in December of 2024 when Talanca came to the shelter to demand his dog back.

Police say when Healthy Hearts & Paws Project President and CEO Jason Cooke tried to release the dog to Talanca, he grabbed it by the collar, twisted it and berated the dog, calling it a bad service dog.

Cooke said he wrestled Talanca to the ground to protect the dog.

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