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Case #17720 Rating: 2.0 out of 5
Malnourished dog, 3 puppies seized
Dothan, AL (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Apr 7, 2011
County: Houston
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 1 files available
Defendant/Suspect: David Jeffrey Paul
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
On April 7th, 2011, Dothan Police Department investigators alerted the Animal Services Division to a possible Cruelty to Animals situation.
A Dothan man faces multiple criminal charges after Dothan police say he neglected four dogs, including three chow puppies.
Dothan Police Cpl. Rachel David said police arrested David Jeffery Paul, 51, on four counts of second-degree animal cruelty. The charges stem from officers in the department's animal services division responding last week to a possible animal cruelty situation at Paul's residence in the 100 block of Woods Drive.
The police statement said police found three puppies and one adult chow dog tied in the backyard with no food, water or shelter.
"They were confined to a small area. They were basically walking in feces, and they were covered in fleas," Cpl. David said. "It was unsanitary where they were kept."
A police statement said officers also found the dogs malnourished and severely infested with fleas. Cpl. David said one of the puppies suffered severe bruising along with a large wound half way around his neck from wearing a collar too tight.
Cpl. David, who also serves as a police K-9 officer, said the puppy's collar likely wasn't adjusted for the dog's growth, and was likely too tight over a period of time.
She said animal services officers seized the tan chow dogs and took them to the Dothan City Animal Shelter. She said the dogs will be up for adoption after a judge releases them, and the case is disposed of in court, usually about 20 days.
Houston County District Attorney Doug Valeska said the punishment for the class A misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty comes to a year in the Houston County Jail and up to a $6,000 fine for each charge, upon conviction.
Court records indicate Paul pleaded guilty last month to a felony first-degree theft of property charge.
Records also indicate Paul was out on bond for three other felony property crimes from earlier this year. Dothan police charged Paul in January with three felony receiving stolen property charges. According to a Dothan police statement, the charges stemmed from an incident during which a police patrol officer stopped a vehicle pulling a flatbed trailer carrying a large amount of metal.
Anyone interested in adopting the dogs can call the Dothan Animal Shelter at (334) 615-4620.
Case UpdatesDothan police Sgt. Adrianne Woodruff, the supervisor at the Dothan Animal Shelter, said an animal cruelty suspect recently pleaded guilty to his charges. She said David Jeffery Paul, 51, was arrested earlier this year after police responded to an animal cruelty situation at his residence in the 100 block of Woods Drive. Police found three puppies and one adult chow dog tied in the backyard with no food, water or shelter.
Woodruff said Paul received 20 days in the Dothan City Jail, followed by two years of probation and a $692 fine and court costs after he pleaded guilty to his charges. | Source: dothaneagle.com - Aug 25, 2011
Update posted on Aug 25, 2011 - 7:34PM |
References« AL State Animal Cruelty Map
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