Dog and donkey neglected
Frankston, TX (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Sep 28, 2011
County: Anderson

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Elton Eugene Duggan

A 48-year-old Frankston man has been charged with cruelty to animals after authorities say a donkey and dog at his residence were not receiving proper care.

Elton Eugene Duggan, 48, of Frankston was arrested around 9 a.m. Wednesday at his residence in the 300 block of CR 306 near Lake Palestine and charged with cruelty to animals, according to Anderson County Sheriff Greg Taylor.

A donkey with a badly-injured hoof and a brindle-colored pit bull were both seized from the man's property, according to the sheriff.

Taylor said late Wednesday afternoon that a local veterinarian was treating the donkey, adding that the animal may have to be euthanized due to the extent of its injuries.

Michele Tillman, the sheriff's animal control officer, began investigating the case on Sept. 20 after receiving an anonymous tip "about an injured donkey not receiving care," according to Taylor.

The animal control officer traveled to the location and began her investigation on that date, the sheriff added.

"The donkey had a severely-injured front left hoof which looked like it had nearly been ripped off," Taylor said. "We're not sure how that happened."

The pit bull, meanwhile, was "tied to the back of a truck with a short rope and couldn't stand up very well," the sheriff stated. "There was no food or shelter and it didn't look like it had much water. It was tangled up in some debris and trash."

Tillman advised the owner to improve the animals' living conditions and obtain medical care for the donkey, advising him she would be paying a followup visit. The officer returned to the location on Monday and did not observe any improvements in the animals' care, the sheriff added.

A seizure warrant for the two animals and an arrest warrant for Duggan was obtained through Anderson County Justice of the Peace James Todd.

A disposition hearing relating to the custody of the animals has been scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Todd's court.

Cruelty to animals is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine not to exceed $4,000.

References

• « TX State Animal Cruelty Map
  « More cases in Anderson County, TX

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