Woman arrested for dogs’ ‘horrible condition’

Details

Published on Wednesday, 25 January 2012 13:54

Police arrested an Elk City woman after two dogs in her care had to be rushed to receive medical treatment.

Police took Jaeda Payne, 19, into custody Monday after they discovered two Doberman pinschers in her backyard that appeared to be extremely malnourished.

According to a preliminary report, an animal control officer received a tip about possible neglect Friday. He arrived at the residence in the 200 block of Quail Drive and saw two Doberman pinschers in the backyard with chemical bottles on the ground. There was also no food, water or shelter, the officer reported.

WORSENING

At that time, the dogs were running around, jumping and barking. He left a note on the door and left. However, when the officer returned Monday, the dogs appeared to be in worse condition.

A uniformed police officer was then called to the scene. The police officer wrote in his report that the male dog, nicknamed by the police as "Boss," was so thin his bones were showing.

The female, "Lady," was lying so still she appeared to be dead.

"[She] slowly began moving and attempted to stand while wobbling from side to side, and remained very unsteady on her feet," the officer wrote. "Lady appeared to be struggling as she walked to the edge of the fence where I was standing."

He continued to describe her condition.

"Lady walked away toward the house, urinated on herself and the ground as she walked away back toward the house and lied down again. It appeared that both dogs were severely malnourished and emaciated."

The officer described the backyard of the residence to have dirty children's toys and  an extreme odor of animal waste.

HOSPITALIZED

The animal control officer had to carry Lady because she could not walk on her own, he reported. He loaded the dogs into his vehicle and took them to the city's animal shelter. He later said that he thought Lady had died during transport because when he arrived, she was unresponsive.

The police officer noted in his report that Lady was provided food and water but was unable to approach them.

Lady was then transported to Western Animal Hospital. She was placed on an exam table and immediately collapsed, leaving her head to hang down off the table, the report states. The officer wrote that it did not appear she had the strength to hold her head up.

The attending veterinarian told police that he was unsure whether Lady would survive. The vet said that she was so dehydrated and malnourished that she could have been living in those conditions for three or four weeks.

If the vet could not get Lady to eat, she would have to be put down, the report states.

By Wednesday, both dogs were eating and moving around well, according to the Elk City Animal Shelter.

ARRESTED

Police then attempted to locate Payne, who was at work that day. Two officers interviewed her, and the report states that she said the two dogs belonged to her husband, who was not living at the residence and who was not allowed to come near the property. She told police she knew the dogs were sick, but could not afford to take them to the veterinarian. She claimed that her husband was supposed to be taking care of the dogs, the report states.

After she was transported to the Elk City Jail and booked for suspicion of animal cruelty, Payne submitted a written statement to police saying that she "didn't pay attention to the dogs, knew that the dogs were sick, and did not seek medical attention for the dogs when needed," according to the police report.

She also told police that her husband knew about the dogs' well-being and also took no action.