Animal Abuse: Dog choked - Jacksonville, FL | Pet-Abuse.Com Animal Cruelty Database

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Case ID: 18382

Classification: Choking / Strangulation / Suffocation

Animal: dog (non pit-bull)

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Abuse was retaliation against animal's bad behavior

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Dog choked
Jacksonville, FL (US)

Incident Date: Saturday, Aug 6, 2011
County: Duval

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Vernita Y. Coleman

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

The assistant principal for Oceanway Middle School was arrested Saturday on charges of animal cruelty.

Witnesses say 52-year-old Vernita Y. Coleman choked a dog in her backyard in the Saddlewood neighborhood on Jacksonville's North Side.

When neighbor Dallas Cook asked Coleman what she was doing, he says she responded "Disciplining the dog."

"The dog was on the ground. It couldn't stand up," says Cook.

"She had a cable around the dog and she was snatching it and choking it...Very vigorously. Why? I don't know. I don't know what the dog did. It didn't do anything to deserve that, that's for sure."

Cook called 911.

Police arrested and booked Coleman into the Duval County jail. Witnesses say animal control picked up the dog.

A Duval County spokesperson cannot confirm if Coleman works for Oceanway Middle School -- but again neighbors and a school website say she does.

The school spokesperson says a school district employee has one business day to self report an arrest. Then district investigators look into the case to determine the next steps.

We've tried to contact animal control to find out the dog's condition.

At this time we have not reached anyone who can tell us.

Case Updates

Neighbors of a Jacksonville educator arrested for animal abuse said the one-time assistant principal has sent out "rude" letters to those who called police on her.

Vernita Coleman was arrested last weekend after neighbors called police saying they witnessed the educator choking her dog, named Scar. The dog is now with Animal Control.

Neighbors told First Coast News the unsigned letters were found in their mailboxes.

Part of the letter reads, "You seemed to have had pleasure making your statement on television. I would have never tried to destroy any of your lives."

Dallas Cook, who called police, told us, "I did not try to destroy her life. She did that to herself."

Cook said he and two other neighbors got the letters.

Coleman, 52, is a teacher at Oceanway Middle. She's been removed from the school while the investigation is underway.

"We saw what we saw, and we will testify to that," said Cook. The neighbors told police they saw Coleman choking the dog and that Coleman said she was "disciplining" it.

While the letter is unsigned, neighbors say it is from her. In the two pages, there are numerous references to herself and the incident.

Cook said he has not given the letter to police, and he doesn't consider it threatening.

"There was no reference to the poor animal, remorse or anything," said Linda Kienker. She got the letter too.

Kienker told First Coast News that before Saturday's incident, she filed a complaint with Animal Control about Scar's condition.

"The dog was tied up to the fence with a rope around its neck without water, no shade and crying."

Animal Control said Scar has two fractures in one leg. Another leg had been broken and healed improperly, and the dog also has old rib injuries.

We tried talking to Coleman and her family. Phone calls were not returned. Those at the home came to the door and refused to open it, but told us to not come back.

First Coast News received an email from someone identifying the writer as Coleman's child. The email noted what the neighbors did was an act of "hatred".

"If she needed help, I'd be there to help her. It has nothing to do with racism. It was to do with the pet," said Kienker.

Those who turned her in to police said they have no regrets and are ready to testify in court to what they saw.

"I don't want to destroy anyone's life, but I'm proud I did save the dog's life," Cook said.

Scar is still with Animal Care and Control. The Duval County School Board said Coleman has been removed from the school, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Source: firstcoastnews.com - Aug 12, 2011
Update posted on Aug 12, 2011 - 7:25PM

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A Duval County Public Schools assistant principal jailed Saturday on an animal cruelty charge was released Sunday afternoon on bond, which was set at $2,503.

Vernita Y. Coleman, 52, is an assistant principal at Oceanway Middle School, according to the school's website.

Coleman was arrested and charged with cruelty to animals and jailed after witnesses said she choked a dog in her North Jacksonville backyard, according to a Jacksonville Sheriff's Office report.

A neighbor said he called 911 because he saw her vigorously using a cable around the dog's neck, and the dog's face was bleeding.

Coleman told him she was disciplining the dog, he said.

A different neighbor previously filed a complaint on Friday with Animal Care and Protective Services, saying the dog appeared to be in distress because of the heat, the report said.

Police described the white, mid-sized dog as having "a good nature," "not aggressive," and "in noticeable pain." It also was reported that the dog was dehydrated, malnourished, about 20 pounds underweight, and had a possible broken rib and dislocated right hip.

Coleman told police the dog nipped her, and that its other injuries must have happened on Thursday while running.

She said she had not had time to take the dog in for medical attention.

There was no answer at the door of Coleman's residence early Sunday afternoon.

The dog was seized by authorities; no information on the dog's condition was available.

Source: jacksonville.com - Aug 8, 2011
Update posted on Aug 8, 2011 - 2:37PM

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Dog chokedJacksonville, FL (US)

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Dog choked
Jacksonville, FL (US)