Chained dogs die of heat exposure, neglect
Palm Bay, FL (US)Incident Date: Monday, Aug 15, 2005
County: Brevard
Disposition: Not Charged
Person of Interest: Latonia Nichelle Gainer
The owner of two pit bulls that died after being chained outside without water, food or shade has been cited for not keeping the dogs' records up to date, Palm Bay officials said.
The woman, identified as Latonia Gainer, also could face additional charges in an ongoing animal neglect investigation conducted Aug 16 by Brevard County Animal Services and Enforcement.
The two citations involved one animal not having the proper tag and the other not having a current vaccination record, officials said.
The dogs -- a 14-month-old male named Rocky and a 13-month-old female named Isis -- died of heat exhaustion late Aug 15.
One of the animals also choked to death after trying to pull away from a tethering chain linked to a fence post, officials said.
"We don't have a lot on it right now. One of two things can happen," said Bob Brown, spokesman for animal services. He said the investigating agent will try to determine if there was any intent in leaving the dogs out in the hot sun without any chance to find shade.
"The case could go criminal or we can look at it through our civil infractions side," he said.
Palm Bay police found the animals tied to a chain link fence on Monday. A neighbor called about police about 4 p.m. to report seeing the animals in distress at a home on the 2500 block of Clinton Drive. Gainer was at work at the time police arrived at her home.
"Apparently, the mother told her 14-year-old son to put the dogs outside. He chained them up without any shade," said Yvonne Martinez, spokeswoman for the Palm Bay Police Department.
The dogs' bodies were taken to the South Animal Care Center located at 5100 Eau Gallie Boulevard.
Animal neglect is a second-degree misdemeanor and could result in a $5,000 fine or six-month jail sentence, Brown said.
"The bottom line is that the owner is responsible for the dogs' welfare," he said. "They are responsible." References« FL State Animal Cruelty Map
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