Tammy Brown spoke to us from jail, where she is currently awaiting sentencing. She insists her dog Harley had food, water and plenty of love. He was just sick, she said, too sick for her to afford.
"We did what we could,” she said. “Ain't none of us had money like that to go to a veterinarian. And if you go to a vet, you know what they say. ‘Well, bring him in. Can I bring him in for free? Absolutely not.’"
Harley had tumors, skin infections and heartworms. Brown said Harley was too bad off for over the counter medications. So, animal services came and took him and Brown was charged with animal cruelty. A jury convicted her last month.
"I loved Harley very much,” she said. “I would never, ever have imagined I would be in here on a 3rd degree felony."
So, what are your options if you can’t afford the vet bill? Veterinarian Shannon Ivey said she's seen it before. Times are tough and people put off pet care.
"Unfortunately, sometimes pet care is considered a discretionary fund and so sometimes that's one of the first things that's cut from their budget,” Ivey said.
But she said waiting only makes it worse and the bill higher. She said there are plenty of other options and most vets will work with you, help you come up with a payment plan or show you how to finance online.
If you still can't afford treatment, Ivey said you can relinquish ownership and let someone else step forward. This she knows firsthand with her own dog.
"We had intentions of placing him but he sort of placed himself at our home,” she said.
Back at the jail, we tell Brown what we learned.
"Knowing what you know now, how would you have handled the situation with Harley?” we asked.
“I would've called,” she said crying.
Harley was put down by animal services shortly after they took him in. Brown's sentencing is Friday. She faces up to five years behind bars.
(Bay News 9 - April 25, 2013)
