Two dogs found dead, abandoned in home Port Charlotte, FL (US) Incident Date: Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007 County: Charlotte Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Charges: Misdemeanor Alleged: Stephen Mark LaSalle

Case ID: 11947 Classification: Neglect / Abandonment Animal: dog (non pit-bull), dog (pit-bull) View more cases in FL (US) Login to Watch this Case

Stephen Mark LaSalle, 26, was arrested on two counts of cruelty to animals and one count of confinement or abandonment of animals five months after Animal Control officers learned that two dogs had allegedly been left to die inside his former house.

The bodies of the male pit bull mix and female chowchow mix were discovered inside the boarded-up house at 18714 Ashcroft Circle, Port Charlotte, on Feb. 28 by a property manager who entered the home during foreclosure proceedings, said Animal Control Lt. Brian Jones. Both canines were decomposed, and it appeared one dog had lived slightly longer than the other.

"They basically were left in there to die," Jones said.

LaSalle, who had owned the house, told Animal Control that a caretaker had been responsible for caring for the dogs, but could not produce the caretaker, Jones said.

Neighbors told Animal Control officers investigating the case that they had wondered about the dogs' condition.

"I guess they just assumed the dogs were gone because they didn't hear them anymore," Jones said.

LaSalle posted $7,500 bond on Aug 1, 2007.

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References

Sun-Herald - Aug 4, 2007

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