Two dogs left outside in crate, one dies
Largo, FL (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Sep 26, 2007
County: Monroe
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» Shannon M. Nichols
» Rachelle L. Jamison
Two women face animal cruelty charges following the death Sept. 26 of a dachshund that had been left in a small crate with another dog, a Pomeranian, in a yard under hot sun for more than two hours with no water.
Charged with felony animal cruelty and animal cruelty involving death are Shannon M. Nichols, and Rachelle L. Jamison, both 22, who live at 1676 Whispering Dr. W.
According to Largo police spokesman Lt. Mike Loux, a neighbor became concerned after hearing the dogs whining and yelping and called Nichols and Jamison on their cell phone and told them the dogs were in distress. When the women refused to immediately return home, the neighbors tried to cool the dogs down with hose water. While the Pomeranian began to drink, the dachshund was no longer moving, Loux said.
After the women later arrived home, words were exchanged and Jamison then spit on one of the neighbors, Loux said. Police officers responding to the scene discovered the dead dog. After questioning, Nichols and Jamison were taken to jail.
The SPCA Tampa Bay took custody of the deceased dachshund to perform a necropsy and confiscated the Pomeranian after Nichols and Jamison refused to surrender custody, said Connie Brooks, SPCA director of operations.
Brooks said tissue from the dachshund was sent to a lab for testing before the exact cause of death can be determined. The Pomeranian is doing well.
Brooks emphasizes that citizens should take action right away if an animal may be in danger.
"People should call us immediately at 586-3591 if they find an animal in distress," she said. References« FL State Animal Cruelty Map
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