- Florida, USA -
Citrus County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Patrick Martin arrested 43-year-old TONYA KAY HARTLEY (pictured below) on accusations she failed to provide veterinary care for her dog, leading the furbaby to suffer from skin, eye, and teeth diseases.
The Chronicle reports that on January 5, the Citrus County Animal Shelter in Inverness contacted the sheriff’s office after a stray dog had been dropped off with suspicious injuries.
The shelter then asked the sheriff’s office to investigate.
Citrus County Sheriff animal control officer Terry Funderburk was dispatched to a residence on East Joy Lane.
At the property, Officer Funderburk met with HARTLEY.
HARTLEY said the dog who had been dropped off at the shelter was hers.
She explained that she’s had the furbaby, a Terrier mix named Jax, since he was 5 weeks old.
HARTLEY also told Officer Funderburk that she had never taken Jax to a vet.
Arresting deputy Martin met with a veterinarian at the shelter, and the report on Jax revealed that his injuries were the result of a few months of neglect.
Infections caused Jax to lose fur across his body and his paws to split and bleed.
He also struggled to walk because of malnourishment.
When deputy Martin met with HARTLEY, on Saturday, January 9, she told him she started bandaging Jax’s paws a couple of months ago after noticing the infection a year ago.
HARTLEY then added that she looked online to find help because she didn’t know what to do.
HARTLEY was arrested, under a third-degree felony charge of animal cruelty.
This heartless female was booked into the Citrus County jail.
The following Monday, she walked after posting a $2,000 bail.
