Half-eaten puppy, malnourished dogs found
Bartow, FL (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, May 3, 2011
County: Polk

Charges: Misdemeanor, Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged:
» Timothy Louis Gant
» Rita Rosetta Gatlin

Bartow police arrested two people Tuesday on multiple counts of animal cruelty after finding malnourished dogs and dead puppies in their backyard.

Bartow police and the Polk County Sheriff's Office Animal Control Unit arrested Timothy Gant, 56, and Rita Gatlin, 45, of 790 North Childs Ave., after finding malnourished dogs and dead puppies at their home.

According to police, they came to the home to investigate complaints of several loose dogs in that area, unaware of what they would find.

They found two adult female dogs chained outside without clean water or food. The only water available was rancid and infested with mosquito larvae.

According to the report, both dogs were obviously malnourished and dehydrated with open, fly-covered sores on their ears and bodies.

Located nearby, police found a chain-link fence kennel measuring 6 feet by 6 feet, with an open top and a dirt floor that was holding four dead puppies, one half-consumed, and one live puppy.

Gant and Gatlin were arrested on-site and charged with four felony counts of Cruelty to Animals (A person who intentionally commits an act to any animal which results in the cruel death, or excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering, or causes the same to be done) and three misdemeanor counts of Cruelty to Animals (A person who unnecessarily overloads, overdrives, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance or shelter, or unnecessarily mutilates, or kills any animal, or causes the same to be done, or carries in or upon any vehicle, or otherwise, any animal in a cruel or inhumane manner).

References

• dailyridge.com - May 5, 2011
• « FL State Animal Cruelty Map
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