Covering Louisiana
Siblings booked with animal cruelty
Posted: Dec 9, 2011 11:00 AM by AP
Updated: Dec 9, 2011 12:22 PM
CHAUVIN, La. (AP) - A brother and sister have been booked with animal cruelty after police found a dead pit bull and four other emaciated dogs at their house.
The Courier reports (http://bit.ly/w3hnxZ ) 24-year-old Monique Marie White and her brother 17-year-old Brandon White were arrested Wednesday. Monique White was booked with four counts of animal cruelty. Brandon faces one count animal cruelty.
After receiving an anonymous call Wednesday, a Terrebonne Parish sheriff's deputy sent to the house found a dead pit bull lying on the ground, its head sticking out of doghouse.
Four other malnourished pit bulls were found at the house.
A news release from the sheriff's office says the doghouses were "covered in feces and appeared to have not been cleaned for an extended period of time."
The pair "could not provide an explanation as to why the animals were very poor in health," the release says. Brandon White said he owned the dead pit bull.
Both remained in jail Friday in lieu of a $100,000 bond. If convicted, they face up to six months in jail, up to $1,000 in fines and mandatory community service.
The surviving dogs were brought to the Terrebonne Animal Shelter.
"For the most part, they are in poor condition," said shelter manager Valerie Robinson. "We are focusing on their health right now."
Robinson said the owners will have 15 days to post a bond that will allow the shelter to keep the dogs until the legal proceedings are finished.
If the bond is not posted, the dogs become property of the shelter, at which time they'll be available to be rescued or may be euthanized, she said.
It was unclear if the Whites had attorneys.
KATC.com is Social!
KATC Videos
Comments