PRESS RELEASE

Woman Arrested For Starving Her Dogs

NEW ORLEANS (7/25/05) – Ms. Jacinta Stewart, 1327 St. Roch Avenue, was arrested today on two counts of Cruelty to Animals.

In response to a complaint, the LA/SPCA visited Ms. Stewart’s home on July 14 and found four (4) dogs, three (3) of which were American Pit Bull Terriers and one (1) Pit Bull mix. The woman claimed they were her brother’s dogs, but he was currently jailed and she was caring for them.

Ms. Stewart surrendered one dog to the LA/SPCA advising that it was mean. She was given until July 25th to provide proof of a rabies vaccination and to take the remaining dogs to the veterinarian for basic veterinary attention.

On July 22, LA/SPCA Humane Officers made a surprise visit and discovered that Ms. Stewart hadn’t fed the dogs or given them water since July 14th claiming they were “mean.” Since our visit on the 14th, one dog had died. The two remaining pit bulls were impounded by the officers, and immediately taken to the LA/SPCA. The dogs have been humanely euthanized.

“The argument just doesn’t make any sense,” said Chief Humane Officer Kathryn Destreza. “When our officers visited Ms. Stewart on the 14th, she had the opportunity to surrender the dogs to our care without any penalty. It’s hard for me to understand how she could make a conscious decision to keep the dogs in her care, but then choose to leave them out in the scorching summer sun without even water, watching them suffer instead.”

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