Abraham Taylor, 36, was convicted earlier this week of four misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty by a San Francisco Superior Court jury.
He was cited in March after Animal Care and Control officers received an anonymous complaint about malnourished dogs at his "Unleashed SF Doggy Daycare" in Bayview-Hunters Point.
The officers found his four Labrador-Weimaraner mixes showing signs of neglect and abuse. Their ribs and hip bones were visible under scabbed and scarred skin, and they were covered in feces, said Officer Ellie Sadler.
The emaciated dogs - three females and a male, each about a year old - couldn't walk and were terrified of human contact, authorities said.
Taylor later signed over ownership of the business to his girlfriend, though he has continued to work there as a manager. During a three-year probation term, he cannot care for, feed or board animals, but is still allowed to walk them.
He is also forbidden from adopting additional animals. He owns three dogs that the city found to be in good health.
Taylor's attorney, Jo Golub, said her client gave a normal amount of food to the dogs that were allegedly abused, but they had worms.
He had given them medication shortly before Animal Care and Control investigated, Golub said, and thought they were getting better. She said Taylor, a lifelong dog lover, plans on appealing his conviction.
The four dogs doubled their weight within a month away from Taylor, said District Attorney George Gascón, who called the crime "disgusting."
Two of the dogs, renamed Katie and Harry, were adopted after a stint at Grateful Dog Rescue in San Francisco. Annette and Rosalynn were sent to Sacramento Independent Animal Rescuers for further rehabilitation, and are now up for adoption.
(sfgate.com - October 18, 2012)
