Deputies and Lee County Animal Service employees found the dog Wednesday when they were checking the Tice area for pet owners who failed to register or provide proper shots to their animals.
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| Anna Torres |
The deputy located a black pit bull in a fenced cage and a small brown and black Yorkie dead in a crate.
Torres told investigators the dog was struck by a car Tuesday morning, and she didn’t have time to take the dog to the veterinarian before going to work. She said she left the dog in the crate.
Ria Brown, spokeswoman for Lee County Animal Services, said Torres gave conflicting stories as to how the dog was injured. She also said Torres admitted knowing the severity of the dog’s injuries.
“We don’t really know what happened to the dog,” she said. “She did say she knew the dog was sick and dying.”
A necropsy will be performed to determine how it died.
Brown said pet owners who have animals in need of medical attention should contact an animal shelter, even if they can’t afford the care or are not able to get the animal to a veterinarian.
She added Lee County Animal Services is able to help pet owners in those situations.
“Just leaving them there to suffer and die is not an option,” she said. “That is never an option.”
Brown said Torres faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine if she is convicted of the felony.
(News-Press - Dec 20, 2012)
