JOHN HARGRAVE JR. arrested after dog found malnourished and unable to walk or stand on his own
- voiceforus
- Apr 14, 2022
- 2 min read
- Louisiana, USA -
On April 10, 2022, Jennings Animal Control Officers along with Jennings Police Department Officers, responded to a residence on Davis Street in reference to an animal complaint.
Officers found a black Labrador Retriever in need of immediate medical care.
The furbaby who is being called Spirit, was extremely malnourished and unable to walk or stand on his own.
An Animal Control Officer removed Spirit and took him to a local veterinarian.
Authorities identified 40-years-old JOHN HARGRAVE JR. (pictured) as Spirit’s guardian and arrested him.
News7 reports that after spending the first night being nurtured by Jennings Police Chief Danny Semmes and his wife, Spirit was taken to an animal hospital in Opelousas where he’s already received two blood transfusions among other medical treatments. Chief Semmes expects Spirit to make it through this fight then eventually be fostered in Florida.
The way the story is presented by Jennings Police through their Facebook post, looks straightforward.
However, according to News7, there’s more to it.
In fact, a witness, Ms. Robin Kershaw Abshire, told 7News that this wasn’t the first report about the dog’s deplorable living conditions and that she made the first call 3 weeks prior.
Ms. Abshire said that she was visiting a friend when she noticed Spirit at a neighbor’s home.
She said: “I looked over and I saw this dog lying down and it was pitiful looking.”
Ms. Abshire then went to check on the furbaby and fed him some of the pizza she was eating.
“He laid his head up against the fence and he allowed me to rub his head. I even rubbed under his little chin. You could just see that probably was the most love he had received in God knows how long”, said Ms. Abshire.
Reporter Andrea Robinson with 7News, said: “Jennings Police did answer to that initial report but unfortunately the dog’s conditions continued to decline in the following weeks.”
There is no explanation as to why Spirit was not immediately removed after that visit.
Police said HARGRAVE was brought to the Jennings Police Department where he was issued a citation for Simple Cruelty to Animals.
Chief Semmens said: “We will pursue these charges to the fullest and hopefully with the help of the District Attorney’s Office we can bring some resolution.”
7News reached out to the Jeff Davis Parish District Attorney’s Office and DA Lauren Heinen told the news agency: “In Jeff Davis Parish we take animal cruelty cases seriously. Our office will be working closely with Jennings Police Department as they continue their investigation.”
Police said more arrests are possible in this case.
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Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.
Spirit please get better. I’m so sorry it took two calls for your neglect & abuse to be taken seriously. Bless the angel who reported this abhorrent condition & eff the ghoul who purposely left Spirit to die!