Emaciated dog found in trash compactor
Norcross, GA (US)

Incident Date: Saturday, Jan 1, 2005
County: Gwinnett

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: LaShanda Renee Glass

In January of 2005, a Norcross, Ga. apartment maintenance worker emptied a trash bin into a trash compactor and started the compactor. When he heard a whimpering sound, he stopped the compactor and found an emaciated young female cocker spaniel in a cage in the trash bin. An officer of Gwinnett County Animal Control came and took the dog to the Gwinnett Animal Clinic in Lawrenceville, where she was examined and was found to be in shock, lethargic, emaciated and dehydrated when she arrived. Mariah, the cocker spaniel in question, had a sudden cardio-pulmonary arrest and died at the Clinic.

Based on the condition of the dog, the police issued an arrest warrant for the owner, LaShanda Renee Glass of Norcross, alleging that she did "knowingly and maliciously cause physical harm to an animal, to wit, a cocker spaniel dog, by rendering part of such animal's body useless by starving and beating said dog to the point it could not walk and placing said living dog in trash compactor dumpster."

The Gwinnett police report states that the 18 month old cocker spaniel appeared to be "extremely malnourished and possibly had four broken legs." The dog's cage was pressed down by the trash compactor, but the majority of injuries to the dog appeared to have been from the alleged mistreatment. Ms. Glass, the owner, alleges that she did not abuse the dog and that the dog died of a sudden illness. However, there is evidence to the contrary, including complaints made about the dog's care by the leasing manager and her neighbors at the apartment complex where Ms. Glass lived. The leasing manager spoke to Ms. Glass about Mariah being tied to the balcony outside her apartment day and night (even when it was lightening and thundering) and told her to keep Mariah inside. Neighbors complained about Mariah barking all night. The District Attorney's Office is performing an investigation of the case.

References

• The Voice For Dogs - January 2005

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