Dog starved, kept in crate without food or water
Hillsborough, FL (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Feb 14, 2007
County: Hillsborough
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 2 files available
Alleged:
» Jonathan Stewart Popple
» James Thomas Lowe
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Hillsborough deputies have arrested a second man accused of starving a German Shepherd.
On Feb 16, 27-year-old Jonathan Popple was arrested in Town 'N Country. Popple reportedly shares a home with the first man arrested in the case, 26-year-old James Thomas Lowe. Lowe was arrested on Feb 14.
Both men are charged with felony animal cruelty and confinement of animals without food or water.
Investigators say the men kept a 3-year-old Shepherd named Jasmine in a crate with no food or water. Investigators at Hillsborough Animal Services say the dog is about 1/2 of the normal weight, and also is missing some of his fur.
Both men posted bond and were released from the Hillsborough County Jail.
Case UpdatesThe 3-year-old German shepherd mix that was found Wednesday emaciated with half her fur gone is making a slow recovery, said Hillsborough County Animal Services spokeswoman Marti Ryan.
Her slight weight gain is quite considerable for a dog that weighed just 13.7 pounds when first found inside a crate in an apartment living room.
Veterinarians are treating her with intravenous fluids.
Authorities on Wednesday arrested her owner James T. Lowe, 26, of 7539 Abonado Road, and the next day arrested his roommate, Jonathan S.
Popple, 27.
Both face charges of animal cruelty - a third-degree felony - and confining an animal without food or water, a first-degree misdemeanor.
This dog was apparently left in a carrier for three weeks. An apartment maintenance worker found the dog in a crate in the living room.
They work together as managers at a restaurant in south Tampa. Both suspects posted $2,500 bond each and were released from Orient Road
Jail.
Jasmine could be eligible for foster care in a few weeks. "She was found not a moment too soon because she had been deprived of proper nutrition for weeks in our estimation," Ryan said.
"There's just no reason for an animal to suffer like this."
The Animal Services staff is watching her closely for signs of organ failure and kidney problems because that's common in an animal starved of nutrition for this amount of time, Ryan said.
"She was little shy when we got her, but she's coming out of her shell all the time," Ryan said. "She seems to appreciate us. That's the wonderful thing about dogs, they are so forgiving."
Foster parents and potential adoptees can apply online at:
http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/animalservices
Donations for Jasmine's care may be sent to:
Animal Services
440 Falkenburg Road
Tampa, FL 33619.
Checks may be made out to "BOCC" with the notation for "Animal Services
- Donation - Jasmine" on the memo portion of the check. | Source: The Tampa Tribune - 2/19/07
Update posted on Feb 22, 2007 - 12:33AM |
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