Andrea Rosebrock 
This past Saturday deputies posted an eviction notice an the apartment at 9832 New Park Road in Westchase, FL. At the time a custodian saw a female boxer inside through the window. Sadly, Animal Control didn’t get to the apartment until Tuesday which was too late for the abandoned dog, she died.
Hillsborough County Animal Services is now seeking the couple who were living at the apartment, Amber and Jorin Steward. The couple who have a history of domestic abuse and violence may have been gone long before the eviction noticed was ever posted. The abandoned dog drank three toilets dry before she succumbed.
“From our experience, we know that animal abuse is consistent with other kinds of abuse,” said spokeswoman Marti Ryan.
“These people took their furniture and left and left a living creature inside this home to die,” said Pam Perry, Hillsborough County Animal Services investigations manager.
“Every one of the toilets is empty. She drank what water she could,” she said. “Found some food items in the garbage and ate that.”
Sadly, the neighbors never heard or saw the dog or they probably would have done something about it. One of the neighbors already has a dog that they rescued from near death.
Anyone with information should call Animal Services at (813) 744-5660 or e-mail info@hillsboroughcounty.org.
What I would like to know is why did it take 3 days for Animal Control to check on the dog?? If someone could see her, they could also have been able to see that she was in distress and immediate action should have been taken in that case. The delay killed that beautiful dog that could have otherwise been saved!
As for the loving, caring owners, who so callously abandoned her, let’s try locking them in a hot box with toilet water and see how they fare. Do people now know or just plain not give a damn about the heartless suffering they inflict on innocent animals? Who knows how long this poor dog suffered in the heart, literally dying of thirst? It breaks me heart that she was abandoned by the very people she trusted to care for her and breaks it again because she was abandoned a second time by an agency that tax dollar support, that could have went in there and rescued her.
It all starts up in Tallahassee. There is no money to pay the staff. And the money that is available it used to fix roads, trim trees, pay useless workers to stand around and watch someone else work. Government officials take what precious money that is left for these understaffed agencies and expect them to do 60hrs of work within a 40hr work week. I have been there done that. And who suffers? The pets, the children & the elderly. And what does our government do about it? They take MORE money away. My county which is north of Hillsborough, does not even have an animal control officer. They have to share with Hernando county. Sad huh……Poor poor puppy had to suffer because the government could not justify the money to pay the staff to go check on this poor girl…..I know some of you are saying – someone should have gone and checked on her themselves, on their own time…..You know…..your right…..someone should have…..I would have…..you would have…….but the sad truth is nobody did and she had to die. Makes me cry.
The poor thing probably suffered and waited thinking someone would be home any minute. Then hearing someone outside looking in the window may have boosted her spirit a bit, only to lie in wait all alone. It kills me to think about how lonely and hungry and helpless she was. This is so darn sad and unfair.
This just breaks my heart. What a beautiful dog too. I agree, that these POS should be locked in a hot box with nothing but toilet water to drink. Let’s just see how they survive. I don’t think they would make it and to me that would be just fine. As for our agency’s, what a joke most of them are, as I am finding out. Make waves people, get the government off it’s dead behind and make them accountable. If we don’t wake up soon and smell the coffee, it is just going to get worse. A life, no matter if human or animal is far more important than a road, trees or any other thing that most of the workers drag on for more money. When construction has to be done then it should be given a date of completion. If this is done, you will find more money available for many things. I know everyone wants to work, but to drag it out for months and even years is hurting all in the long run. I wish I would have been there. If I had placed the call and they weren’t out there pronto, I would have broken a window and saved this poor baby. Our government is fast becoming a joke. I am sure that most of us here feel the same way. We need strength in numbers.
The owners are pieces of crap but seriously the poor baby was seen on Saturday and it took all that time to go rescue her??Animal Control has to take some responsibility here as well.They failed this dog big time.Shame on them!As for the owners they are disgraces and I hope when found are charged and serve the max.Scum,Pure evil heartless scum.
Evey time you do things by the book , all the stupidity then this poor dog is dead . Just go in and rescue the poor girl for Gods sake , The owners are useless scum
“What I would like to know is why did it take 3 days for Animal Control to check on the dog??”
This is a truly heart wrenching story – Our hearts break – and we hope for swift justice -
However, to come to the defense of all animal care takers in rescue that are over worked, under paid and staff that are stretched to the max…It very well could have taken this particular animal control team 3 days to check on this complaint of animal abandonment because they had 300 calls before this one…
Florida sure seems to have it share of problems with animals, maybe they just are not important to the powers that be. Maybe someone needs to jerk them around a little. Maybe if Mr Bush is serious about running for Prez, he had better step it up a little if I lived in Florida, you bet I would be e-mailing that dude everyday. Between dog rape, cat killing, horse stealing and then killing, dog fighting, now public animal control can not be trusted to do their job. It really looks like there is many problems on many levels that need to be looked into. Maybe a petition to the governor might get some attention. maybe its time someone did something. I will be e-mailing the governor and asking whats up tonight….
I wish the custodian would have gone in there himself to care for that poor dog rather than wait for animal control. Jeb Bush needs to do a much better job seeing to it that animal control agencies are adequately funded. He apparently is’nt a very competent governor. In a way I hope he does run for President because he’d lose.
I do not live in Florida, but please keep Jeb Bush out of the White House! His brother did not care about animal welfare, so why would we think he does. This state does seem to have some real issues and negative attitudes about animal well being. This story is a perfect example. I hope the offenders are caught and justice is served. RIP poor girl! You did not deserve this.
Oh yes, I agree too. Stop waiting for the right time to do things. Just rescue the animal and be done with it. Possession is 9/10’s of the law. Start using that. We need to look at some of these old laws and put them to good use. They say you can’t beat the system, I say there is always a way.
AC has a responsibility to check on all calls immediately. Yes, these people who did live there are trash, but I hold AC just as responsibile for the death of this boxer. This is so upsetting to me, because if a rescue group had gotten the call, they would be there johnny on the spot, with the police and the ac would have been made to come to the apartment.
It really makes you wonder what is wrong with not only pet parents sometimes, but also with those who are sworn to “serve and protect”. I have lost faith in so many of them (pet parents and our officers of the law) it is pathetic.
The humane society has really become about money. That is why I don’t give to them any longer. I wrote that to them too. Maybe those who once supported will let them know they will take action.
I had a call from them not long ago, asking why I stopped supporting them. I told them flat out that they are not about saving and rehabilitating animals, but in fact are killing animals. The guy was shocked on the phone, and said that it is not true. I was not near my laptop at the time, so could not pull up stories about them. I told him they were all about fat paychecks, and not looking out for the benefit of the animals. I think I horrified him, because I was getting more and more steamed during our conversation. I emailed the President of HSUS, and spoke of my feelings, but never received an email back.
I have been donating money to certain shelters that I work with, sponsoring a dog here and a dog there, to help with vetting. When the dogs go on the internet for rescues to be taken in, if a dog has money sponsored towards it, sometimes it aids in the fact that the dog is going to have money coming with it for vetting. At least I know exactly where the money is going, and it is helping save lives of these homeless babies.
If anyone is interested in donating to shelters around you, I will get with D on locations – maybe we can do something together.
I was donating to Michigan Humane Society and United States Humane Society. Not anymore. Saint Francis Animal Sanctuary 12516 Cherry Road Vermilion, OH 44089 Here is an address of a shelter that takes in dogs with special needs. Missing legs, wounds from guns, and so many others. I had never heard of it but got the info from Mary O’conner-Shaver. She is the lady that is trying to stop the puppy mills in OH. Has anyone ever heard of it? I went to the website and cried like a baby. Those poor dogs. They also take in cats and horses. I guess if you type in the name in the search engine you could get to the page. There are so many and they fix them and try to find them homes.
Mary O’Conner Shaver is wonderful and does a fantastic job!! She’s working diligently on getting something done with the Ohio auctions among other things.
D.
I too have been in touch with Mary. She is a very headstrong woman, really trying to get justice done in the Ohio area, not to mention giving so many of us in rescue a heads up on new laws pending in our states.
St. Francis has been around a long time, and I could not say enough about what they do for our beloved animals that really need help. I wish I had the land and the funds to open a sanctuary. Those people that work there are very dedicated to any animal who comes their way.
Thanks all, I am going to send my donation in tonight. Those poor babies. I too, wish I could open a place for all of them.
Yes, I have heard of Saint Francis Sanctuary in Ohio and would like to start something like it in my area. Maybe it would be nice if some of us could make a donation to them in memory of this poor dog that was not rescued in time. I have lost faith in many of the large organizations because it IS about money no matter what they tell you. Their CEOs make big bucks! That money should be going to help the animals instead. I only send my money directly to shelters that have animals physically there, so I know it is being used for their care.
Also, I wish all shelters would stop using gas. It is so barbaric and inhumane. What do we need to do to make them illegal in all 50 states. My state has stopped using them, but Ohio and many Southern states still do. Any ideas out there?