Dog starved, abandoned after owner moves
Tampa, FL (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Oct 17, 2008
County: Hillsborough

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Angelique Stephens

Angelique Stephens mistreated a dog, causing the animal to become weak and bloated, according to Hillsborough County Animal Services investigators.

The dog, a brown-and-white male retriever mix named Ratchet, was taken to a veterinarian for an evaluation and had to be euthanized, investigators say.

Stephens was arrested at 4:40 p.m. Wednesday.

Investigators went to a home at 2206 E. Bougainvillea Ave. on Friday and found Ratchet tied to a fence, Animal Services spokeswoman Marti Ryan said. The dog barely had a pulse. It appears Stephens moved from the area and left Ratchet, Ryan said.

Neighbors say Stephens also left behind three cats and that one was hit by a car and the other two were left to wander, Ryan said.

Stephens was charged with animal cruelty, abandonment of an animal and confinement of an animal without food and water.

Bail for Stephens, 36, of 5018 Palm River Road, was set at $3,000. She has since been released.

References

• Tampa Bay Online - Oct 23, 2008

« FL State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Hillsborough County, FL

Note: Classifications and other fields should not be used to determine what specific charges the suspect is facing or was convicted of - they are for research and statistical purposes only. The case report and subsequent updates outline the specific charges. Charges referenced in the original case report may be modified throughout the course of the investigation or trial, so case updates, when available, should always be considered the most accurate reflection of charges.

For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.