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JENNIFER JEANETTE MEEKS, former Rover sitter, facing charges after a dog in her care had to be treated for puncture wounds and an infection on his neck

Updated: Feb 19

- Florida, USA -


⚠️WARNING⚠️The article contains pictures some of you may find distressing⚠️


39-year-old JENNIFER JEANETTE MEEKS (pictured) is facing charges after a dog in her care had to be treated for puncture wounds and an infection on his neck.


According to the affidavit obtained by Voice For Us, on September 15, 2024, Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control received a complaint of animal cruelty from Brian Millard who had boarded his dog, a 10-year-old Belgium Malinois named Abel, with a sitter from Rover.


Officer Bullock responded to Calusa Veterinary Center where Abel was under sedation. The officer reported that multiple punctures wounds were clearly visible on Abel’s neck. He then spoke with the veterinarian on duty, Dr. Fryer, who explained that the puncture wounds “were consistent with the use of a prong collar.” Dr. Fryer said Abel had a severe infection covering the entire affected area of his neck.

Dr. Fryer estimated, based on the appearance and odor of the wounds, that they had likely occurred more than three days prior.


Officer Bullock called Mr. Millard and they met at the vet's office, where the officer took Mr. Millard's statement.

Mr. Millard explained that his family was in the process of selling their home and they were temporarily staying at an Airbnb. Since dogs were not allowed, they needed to find boarding for their two dogs.

The Millards then reached out to the Rover application and selected MEEKS.


They dropped off the dogs on September 2, 2024, and planned to pick them up on October 11, 2024.

However, on September 15, MEEKS called Mr. Millard and told him that Abel had puncture wounds on his neck. Mr. Millard showed officer Bullock Abel’s prong collar and said that he had told MEEKS it was to be used for walks only and then removed. Mr. Millard also believed that Abel was tethered while still wearing the prong collar and his injuries were the result of Abel trying to break free as he does not like to be tethered.

Mr. Millard then concluded that after MEEKS called him, he immediately went to pick up his dogs and took Abel to the vet.


On September 20, 2024, officer Bullock met with MEEKS at her home on 22226 SW 62nd Avenue in Boca Raton and advised her that there were two complaints against her. One was an anonymous complaint about her abusing dogs.


Officer Bullock then asked MEEKS what happened to Abel.

MEEKS confirmed when Mr. Millard dropped off his dogs and that he told her to not use the prong collar on Abel except for during his walks.

MEEKS told the officer that she did not understand why Mr. Millard did not remove the collar himself and that after two weeks into the job, she noticed Abel’s neck was swollen and there was a bad smell coming from the neck. She added that at no time was Abel tethered.


Officer Bullock informed MEEKS that she would probably receive a visit from the Licensing and Enforcement department because she was boarding without a permit. She blamed Rover for not telling her and officer Bullock rightfully said that it was her responsibility.


Following an investigation, MEEKS was arrested on February 11, 2025, and was charged with one felony count of animal cruelty. She was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail and released after posting a $5,000 bail. Court records show that MEEKS’ arraignment is set to take place on March 20, 2025, at 8:30 a.m.


MEEKS’ Rover account has since been suspended.


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Voice For Us Disclaimer: Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.


MEEKS’ mugshot provided to Voice For Us by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office






 
 
 

Family of four charged with animal cruelty - Nearly forty animals removed from a pet sitter’s home

Updated: Apr 27, 2023

- Tennessee, USA -



~ Update: April 24, 2023


The Knox County Sheriff’s Office has booked and charged 23-years-old HAYLEE ELISABETH MORRIS (pictured), a pet sitter, accused of neglecting animals in her care.

In March 2023, MORRIS was charged but not booked on charges in relation to an animal cruelty case in which several animals were found dead in and outside her Knoxville home. Several other animals were found alive but in poor condition and were removed by Knox County Animal Control.


MORRIS is charged with two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, two counts of cruelty to animals and violation of rabies laws for not vaccinating animals.


HAYLEE ELISABETH MORRIS' mugshot provided to Voice For Us by the Knox County Sheriff's Office.




~ Original story:


Following a months-long investigation into animals who died or were found in poor condition while in the care of a pet sitter, four family members are now facing animal cruelty charges.


The Knox County Sheriff's Office said that 51-years-old THOMAS JASON MORRIS, 50-years-old MICHELLE LEE BURGESS-MORRIS (pictured), 23-years-old HAYLEE ELISABETH MORRIS, and 19-years-old ISABELLA M. MORRIS have each been charged with two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, two counts of cruelty to animals, and one count of violation of anti-rabies laws.

Online records show that only BURGESS-MORRIS is in custody.


According to the multiple Knox County Sheriff's Office reports obtained by Voice For Us, in July 2022, a Knox County Animal Control officer received a complaint from a woman whose dog had been fostered by the MORRIS family. The complainant explained that on July 15, 2022, she had gone to a home on 8112 LeClay Drive to pick up her dog named Colby, and noticed he was in poor condition. The woman said that Colby had suffered rapid weight loss two weeks after being left with the MORRISES. A vet examined Colby and found him to be emaciated and dehydrated. Additionally, based on his fur, the vet determined that Colby had likely been left to sit in his own urine and feces. Colby also had fleas despite being given flea medication.


Following this complaint, a Knox County Animal Control officer responded to the LeClay Drive home on July 16, 2022. Outside the residence the officer saw clutter and reported a strong smell of urine coming from inside the property. According to the ACO, there were flies and gnats buzzing around windows where tufts of pet hair could be seen. The officer said the home belonged to HAYLEE ELISABETH MORRIS. Upon arrival, the officer was met by MORRIS’ grandmother who said the animals “were well taken care of” and called her granddaughter.


When HAYLEE ELISABETH MORRIS arrived at the home, she explained to the ACO that the flies were due to an air conditioning outage, and inside the home was an aggressive dog. She denied that Colby’s condition had worsen in her care, and stated that she had fostered animals from various organizations in the past, including Young-Williams Animal Center (YWAC).


The ACO then obtained a list of the animals adopted by HAYLEE ELISABETH MORRIS from YWAC. The list showed that since 2021, MORRIS had adopted eight rabbits, two birds, two dogs, two hamsters, and a cat. In less than a year, all but one of those voiceless victims died.

According to the Knox County Sheriff's Office, at the time, HAYLEE ELISABETH MORRIS was also fostering four kittens from YWAC and two of them died while in her care.


After the report about Colby in 2022, Knox County Animal Control received a complaint that MORRIS was possibly abusing or neglecting dogs. The agency received multiple calls reporting animal abuse at the LeClay Drive home, so on March 5, 2023, Knox County Animal Control returned to the property for a welfare check.


An officer reported hearing barking coming from the garage, but the number of dogs could not be determined. Since attempts to contact MORRIS were unsuccessful, the officer left a warning letter.


The following day, Knox County Animal Control returned to the home and made contact with HAYLEE ELISABETH MORRIS’ father, THOMAS JASON MORRIS. The father, however, told the officer they needed to reschedule the home inspection, because his daughter wasn’t there as she had suffered a stab wound to her leg from a knife placed in the trash by the grandmother.


On March 7, 2023, Knox County Animal Control officers were finally able to enter the home and HAYLEE ELISABETH MORRIS and her father told them there were nine dogs inside the property.


Officers reported the home reeked of urine and feces and said they saw feces dried up on the floor and puddles of urine along the walls and floors.


Officers asked father and daughter to see the dogs and found one of them in poor condition. The MORRISES said the dog was riddled with cancer.

On that occasion, officers didn’t see any other animals, but the family said they had a bearded dragon and a parakeet.


Due to the condition of the home and the presence of a juvenile and an elderly adult, officers advised the family they would have to refer the case to Adult Protective Services and Child Protective Services. The animals were left inside the home overnight as officers said none of them appeared to be in life-threatening harm.


On March 8, 2023, officials returned to the home and found HAYLEE ELISABETH MORRIS’ sister, ISABELLA M. MORRIS, who became upset when they told her they were there to remove the animals.


As Animal Control began loading some of the dogs into their vehicles, a forensic officer advised them that there were several more dogs upstairs. Not only that, but at some point, random dogs began running from the home, and officers found several other animals hiding in different closets and rooms behind walls of trash and clutter.

One cat was found inside a pet carrier underneath trash in a bathroom after officers heard the furbaby meowing.

In HAYLEE ELISABETH MORRIS’ bedroom, officers found a 12-month-old German shepherd puppy inside a closet.


Within another bedroom officers found a dead cat decomposing under a bucket.


A deceased guinea pig was found in a plastic garbage bag, a dead ferret was discovered in a closet, and a dead rabbit was located between some debris.


In the backyard of the home, upon inspection of a crawl space, officers found animals in cages, including many cats, rats, a turtle, and a dead bird. Four adult cats were found inside a small pet carrier meant for one small animal. Two other thin cats were found in another carrier, and others were in dog crates without food or water.


Inside the garage, officers reported the presence of waist-high garbage piles and on one of the garbage piles they found a dead rabbit.


According to Knox County Animal Control, officers removed seventeen dogs, twelve cats, three rats, three rats, two guinea pigs, two lizards, one bird, and one turtle. The four deceased animals were also removed.


The sheriff’s office reported: “The findings were so extensive, veterinary cruelty checks needed to be conducted on each animal and the deceased animals were sent to the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine for necropsy testing (to attempt to determine the cause of death). If there were additional dead/decomposed animals, they were not visible in the clutter and garbage throughout the home.”


10 News spoke with some of the people who lost their dogs while in the care of HAYLEE ELISABETH MORRIS.

Ms. Lisa Lunch shared with the news agency pictures of her late female French Bulldog named Maybelle.

While Ms. Natalie Hartman shared pictured of her late service dog named Koda. An extremely emotional Ms. Hartman said about Koda: “She was my everything.”


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.



MICHELLE LEE BURGESS-MORRIS's mugshot provided to Voice For Us by the Knox County Sheriff's Office.


Additional Sources:






 
 
 

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