Blurred image of dog who froze to death inside this dog house in Connecticut ( courtesy of WFSB)
Michelle Bennett, 50, was charged with one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty early this morning, Thursday, January 4th 2018, after her pet pit bull was found frozen inside a dog house on her property at 108 Adams Street, Hartford, Connecticut on New Year’s Day.
Bennett had been in jail for the past six months on drug-related charges when her dog was found deceased. She asked a family member to look after her dog while incarcerated.
The male pit bull was approximately 3 years old and was chained to a dog house located at the rear of the house. According to a report by veterinarian, Dr. Stephanie Henry, the dog was brought to her clinic on New Year’s Day and was “frozen solid.” “He was underweight for his body size with low body fat and low muscle density.” His ribs were sticking out and was laying in and covered in his own feces.
Bennett could face a jail sentence up to one year and/or be fined up to $1,000.
The dog was discovered after a concerned citizen called the police and said he was “exposed to the elements during this bitter cold weather.” The police stated the dog was “not provided with any type of protective measures against the cold.”
No word if the family member who cared for the dog will be charged with animal cruelty.
Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein is a television talk show host, speaker, writer and is an unabashed animal advocate. Her love for animals and quest for the hard truth is what drives her passion for all things animals. She hosts the show, ” A Close-Up Look at Animal Welfare Issues.” She adores her once-abused tripawd, Brody. If you’d like Tina to talk to your group or have a story, please email her at tevangelistaepp@yahoo.com. Like https://www.facebook.com/ACloseUpLookAtAnimalWelfareIssues and check out AnimalWelfareIssues.com for all the tv shows, articles, and podcasts you may have missed!
What about the family member who actually let the dog outside and freeze to death? Michelle Bennett was in jail when this happened. I guess she’s ultimately responsible for her dog but it was the person who was supposed to take care of the dog and didn’t. He wasn’t fed right and he was underweight and he was lying in his own feces. That family member belongs in jail.
I don’t know if any charges will be pressed against the family member. It doesn’t make sense.
Thanks!
Force people who do this to animals force them to sleep outside for the night with freezing temperatures and see how much they think that that’s OK to do. They think they’re just dogs they’re meant to live outside but they’re not. Animals are warm-blooded beings
The relative needs to be charged too!
Pit bulls have to be treated the worst of all breeds.
Arrest her relative