Israel Stovall charged with animal cruelty after her Rottweiler died of heat exhaustion in Texas

TEXAS -- An Austin woman faces animal cruelty charges after leaving her dog on a back patio with no shade or water for hours. The dog died, even after neighbors tried to save it.

According to an arrest affidavit, a witness called police on June 27 to check on a dog in a southeast Austin backyard on Sand Dunes Avenue.

The witness said that a Rottweiler named Dimitri was tied up to the back door on a concrete patio with no cover and no water, and that the owner was not home. The witness also said that the dog had been barking for over two hours and the bark had gotten higher pitched.

A short time later, the witness called police again crying, saying that they had tried to save the dog but it had died.
             

Around 4:19 p.m., the neighbor called police back crying, saying she had tried to save the dog, but it had died. The owner, Israel Stovall, was not home when the dog died.

According to the affidavit, the witness said they had called police many times over the past two years about the same dog. Another witness also called police about the dead dog. They told police that the dog was always in the backyard and did not even have a dog house until recently. They said they gave the dog treats and water through the fence because the owners rarely interacted with the dog.

As the dog panicked, neighbors were able to enter the backyard through holes Dimitri had made, while trying to escape. Witnesses told police Dimitri was panicking and struggling to get out of the tether. They tried to remove the dog from the leash, but it was hooked from the inside.

As he struggled, he started wheezing and went limp. Neighbors also say the tether was so short, the dog could not get to his dog house, and his water bowl was dry. The dog eventually collapsed, and died in their arms. 

When police arrived, they noticed the dog, the leash and the tether were no longer on the back porch.

The house belonged to 32-year-old Israel Nicole Stovall and her husband. Police said there had been several disturbances and arrests. The husband, according to the affidavit, no longer lived at the house.

Stovall told police she believed Dimitri died of a snake bite. She also said a family member buried Dimitri, but police did not find evidence of that.

Stovall’s friend told police Dimitri was tied up outside, while Stovall took her children to a birthday party. When Stovall returned, she found the dog dead on the back porch. Police also tracked down a call Stovall made to a 311 operator to report the dog’s death from “possibly choking after getting stuck.” When Stovall asked 311 to pick the dog up, the operator told her she needed to bury the dog or take it to a veterinarian. 

Neighbors told police Dimitri was friendly, and they would often give him water and treats. They also said the owners rarely interacted with Dimitri.

Allen Mexas lives down the street from where it all happened and was horrified when he learned how the dog died.

“It’s just not human to do that,” he said.

Mexas is a proud pet parent of a 7 year-old schnauzer. He said he would never leave Angel outside in the summer heat.

“To tie him up in this heat and it’s been about a hundred degrees out there, its terrible,” he said.

Court documents also reveal Stovall and her ex-husband were investigated by Animal Control in September of 2014. A neighbor had requested a welfare check. She told officers that Dimitri was constantly outside, and had not been fed or given water in 3 days. Animal control talked with Stovall about proper care and issued her 2 citations for no rabies vaccinations.

Police say the dog died of heat stroke. Stovall was charged with cruelty to non-livestock animals, with bond set at $6,000.

Stovall faces up to 2 years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

(KEYE - Sept 9, 2015)