Florida: Spring Hill couple - Christina Courts and Raymond Courts - arrested for animal cruelty

Mugshots.com ID: 126403344
Name: COURTS, RAYMOND LESTER JR
DOB: 2/01/1977
Report #: 2016-00690/1
Arrest Date: 1/08/2016 at 18:06
Arrest Location: 3322 BEAVER AVE
Charges:
828.12 - ANIMAL CRUELTY

FLORIDA -- A couple has been arrested after neglecting to care for their sick dog.

On Jan. 8, deputies responded to a residence home on Beaver Avenue in Spring Hill, in reference to a dog that appeared to be in grave condition, lying in a backyard.

The caller, who works for Bright House, was working at a house next door when he noticed the dog in a neighboring yard.

 

When deputies arrived, they found the dog that appeared to be in significant physical distress, with her body twitching as she lay on the ground, with bugs crawling on her. She was unable to pick up her head, stand or walk and had a large open wound on its back.

Deputies also noted that the dog appeared to be malnourished as all its bones were visibly showing with no food or water to be found in the backyard.

The owners, Raymond and Christina Courts, initially told deputies they took Edie Jo, an 8-year-old Doberman mix, to a veterinarian about a month ago, but then changed the time to six months after further questioning.

The Courts' were unable to provide any documentation of having recently taken Edie Jo to a veterinarian for treatment.

Christina then told deputies while she was aware Edie Jo was in grave health but that the couple could not afford to pay for Edie Jo's treatment. The couple was told by a veterinarian to keep the large open tumor on Edie Jo's back clean and wrapped, but that was never done.

At an animal service officer's direction, the Courts' proceeded to take Edie Jo to a veterinarian; however, she died en route. A necropsy on Edie Jo to determine her cause of death is planned for later today.

Previous veterinarian records show that Edie Jo weighed 111 pounds in 2010 and weighed only 49 pounds at the time of her death.

Christina and Raymond Courts were each charged with one count of Felony Animal Cruelty. Their bond was set at $2,000 each.

Two dogs and two cats also living in the house were removed for their safety.

(WTSP - Jan 11, 2016)