Dogs abandoned, two puppies starve to death
Muncie, IN (US)Incident Date: Friday, Mar 20, 2009
County: Delaware
Charges: Misdemeanor, Felony Non-CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Paula L. Timmons
Paula L. Timmons maintains she continued to care for her female pit bull, Vengeance, and the dog's 10 puppies after moving out of a West Ninth Street house, leaving the canines behind.
Timmons, more recently of Yorktown, told a Muncie Animal Shelter official she had returned to the Muncie house twice daily to feed and water the animals, and even left a television set on for the dogs' viewing pleasure.
But when police, animal shelter and Delaware County Health Department officials entered the house March 20, they reported finding Vengeance and her eight surviving puppies -- two had apparently starved to death -- in severely "emaciated" conditions, in a feces-filled house with no access to food or water.
Timmons, 37, was charged this week with nine counts of cruelty to an animal, a Class B misdemeanor carrying a maximum 180-day jail term.
She is also charged with failure to properly dispose of a dead animal, a Class D felony with a standard 18-month sentence. That charge stems from the discovery of a dead puppy whose carcass had been wrapped in a towel and left in a bathtub.
According to police reports, officers entered the Ninth Street home -- owned by a friend of Timmons -- after receiving a report that its back door was standing open.
In a report, officer Michael Mueller wrote that he found "enormous piles of dog feces all through the house," along with the malnourished animals.
Christine Dely-Stinson of the health department also reported "evidence of urine" was found on beds, floors and furniture. The condition of the house prompted her department to condemn it, Dely-Stinson wrote.
Julie Smith, officer manager of the Muncie Animal Shelter, said the adult pit bull had given birth to two litters, each consisting of five puppies, about six months apart. One dog from each litter was found dead, including the animal found in the tub.
The emaciated puppies and their mother were taken to the animal shelter, where they are now in good health, Smith said. Cost of their care and treatment through Friday was estimated at $2,450. References
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