Saturday, August 5, 2017

Indiana: Norita Sample, 46, charged with animal cruelty; accused of starving her dog

INDIANA -- Norita Sample, 46, 6639 W. Philadelphia Drive, McCordsville, faces one count of animal cruelty amid allegations she underfed her dog.

Sample was arrested Wednesday and bonded out Thursday afternoon on a $600 cash bond after pleading not guilty to the charge.


Police say she kept her pet dog in filthy living conditions and underfed the animal, documents state.

The dog’s rib cage, spine and hip joints were protruding from its skin when it was found, according to court documents. Most of the dog’s fur had fallen out, and what remained was matted, court records state.  

The dog had trouble walking and couldn’t fully open its eyes, police said.

When police asked Sample what type of food she feeds the dog, she said she didn’t know, then went and looked in the pantry, where there was no dog food, records state.

She told police she fed the dog beans earlier in the day, court documents state.

When questioned by animal management employees, Sample said she usually takes care of the animal but she had fallen behind on bills, charging documents state.

Animal management officials took the dog.


(Greenfield Reporter - August 4, 2017)