After police seized an emaciated, dehydrated dog from a frozen doghouse behind her home, in January 2005, Jane Walker, of Bristol, was expected to appear in court on a cruelty to animals charge. Jane Walker, 48, of 10 Bellcourt Ave. was charged last Thursday, April 7, 2005, with mistreating or failure to feed an animal and was due to be arraigned April 20, 2005 in Providence's Sixth Division District Court.
Police first learned of the alleged cruelty after Bristol Animal Control Officer Dyanne Gibree received an anonymous call about the dog on Jan. 21. The caller said Taylor, a 12-year-old mixed breed, had been left out in the cold without adequate shelter, food or water.
Officer Gibree arrived at Ms. Walker's home just before January's blizzard dumped 25 inches of snow on Bristol. She said that when she arrived, Taylor had no access to food and her water bowl had frozen. It was obvious she hadn't been cared for, she said.
Emaciated and dehydrated, Taylor was taken to the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, where veterinarians inspected her and advised Officer Gibree that cruelty charges could be instated. After the inspection, Taylor was handed over to Bristol authorities and brought to the animal shelter on Minturn Road, where she has been ever since.
If found guilty of mistreating the dog, Ms. Walker could be forced to relinquish ownership, be fined up to $500, and could serve a year in jail. If found innocent, the courts will determine the fate of the dog and whether or not she will be returned to Ms. Walker or be put up for adoption. Case UpdatesNearly three months after police seized an emaciated, dehydrated dog from a frozen doghouse behind her home, a Bristol woman was expected to appear in court yesterday on a cruelty to animals charge. Jane Walker, 48, of 10 Bellcourt Ave. was charged on Thursday, April 7, with mistreating or failure to feed an animal and was due to be arraigned Wednesday in Providence's Sixth Division District Court.
Police first learned of the alleged cruelty after Bristol Animal Control Officer Dyanne Gibree received an anonymous call about the dog on Jan. 21. The caller said Taylor, a 12-year-old mixed breed, had been left out in the cold without adequate shelter, food or water.
Officer Gibree arrived at Ms. Walker's home just before January's blizzard dumped 25 inches of snow on Bristol. She said that when she arrived, Taylor had no access to food and her water bowl had frozen. It was obvious she hadn't been cared for, she said.
Emaciated and dehydrated, Taylor was taken to the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, where veterinarians inspected her and advised Officer Gibree that cruelty charges could be instated. After the inspection, Taylor was handed over to Bristol authorities and brought to the animal shelter on Minturn Road, where she has been ever since.
Officer Gibree said Taylor was in rough shape when she first spotted her in the Bellcourt Avenue yard, and in her first hours and days at the shelter.
"You could see every last rib poking through the skin," she said. "Because it was snowing at the time, it was obvious that no one had been taking care of the animal because no foot prints were found in the snow."
Aside from not being fed properly, she said, Taylor's shelter was also inadequate, as it had a hole in the top allowing snow and freezing rain to seep in.
Taylor weighed 26 pounds when she was rescued, less than half of what a dog her size should weigh, Officer Gibree said.
In the months since she was seized, Taylor has made a remarkable rebound, Officer Gibree said. She has gained weight and seems happier.
"It took about two weeks to sustain and regulate her diet, but she's eating well now," said Officer Gibree. "She's a great dog, she's wonderful. Her temperament and demeanor has changed so much since she got here and she is eating well too. The last time we weighed her she was 52 pounds and she is even heavier now."
However, her future is uncertain. Taylor has been in limbo since coming in, because the Bristol police's investigation didn't proceed to the point where charges could be filed until earlier this month. With legal charges outstanding against Ms. White, the shelter can only continue to hold the dog until the courts decide the next step.
"All we can do is regulate her physically until her owners are brought to court. She is in our custody only, but we can't put her up for adoption or anything else like that yet."
Ms. Walker said Tuesday that she feels horribly about the situation, but taking care of Taylor was her children's responsibility.
"I work two jobs and I just didn't have time to feed the dog," she said. "I left that up to my kids but they just didn't feed her. When I get home from work, I'm tired. As soon as I get home from one job I go to the next."
If ultimately found guilty of mistreating the dog, Ms. Walker could be forced to relinquish ownership, be fined up to $500, and could serve a year in jail. If found innocent, the courts will determine the fate of the dog and whether or not she will be returned to Ms. Walker or be put up for adoption. Until then, Taylor will stay at the pound. | Source: East Bay Newspapers - April 23, 2005
Update posted on Apr 23, 2005 - 3:09PM |
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