SEBRING — The attorney for a Moore Haven correctional officer announced Thursday that the case against his client in the shooting of her pit-bull dog in late March, was dropped by the state's attorney's office. The charge was dropped on April 15 and the attorney received notice on April 24, according to information received from the court. Dawn Marie Thomas, 31, of Sebring, was arrested by Highlands County sheriff's deputies on March 25, and charged with causing cruel death, pain or suffering to an animal, after sheriff's investigators said she shot and killed her pit bull dog in its cage after it started to show aggressive tendencies. Had the case been brought forward, the charge would have been a third-degree felony. ...more

May 30, 2008

Bones protruded under the fur of the emaciated pit bull lying at the bottom of the small wooden crate. ...more

May 9, 2008

Bones protruded under the fur of the emaciated pit bull lying at the bottom of the small wooden crate. Surrounded by fecal matter and kept without food or water, she'd lost more than half her weight. Motionless, and with no detectable pulse or blood pressure, the brown and white dog showed no signs of life. Until she moved her eyes. ...more

May 8, 2008

Columbus, a 12-year-old husky mix, is no threat to anyone. He is a smart, sweet old dog who looks you in the eyes and has a great soul, Hillsborough County Animal Services spokeswoman Marti Ryan said. Before being removed from his owner's care, however, Columbus had been chained to an air conditioning unit, was emaciated and likely hadn't been given veterinary care for years. ...more

February 9, 2008

BRANDON - Columbus, a 12-year-old husky mix, is no threat to anyone. ...more

February 7, 2008

Your pets are at risk of being stolen from your front and back yards. Please be more alert and responsible for your fuzzy family members, and don't allow this to happen to you. ...more

February 6, 2008

One of two dead dogs found in Shirley McKenzie's yard was so decomposed that investigators couldn't tell whether it was male or female, Hillsborough County Animal Services spokeswoman Marti Ryan said. ...more

February 6, 2008

TAMPA - One of the two dead dogs found in Shirley McKenzie's yard was in such a state investigators couldn't tell whether it was male or female, Hillsborough County Animal Services spokeswoman Marti Ryan said. ...more

February 5, 2008

Helena took the garbage out shortly after 9:15 a.m. Saturday. She glanced to her right across the empty lot and noticed one of her neighbors was standing outside. He was not carrying anything, nor did he look frightened, angry or excited. ...more

February 2, 2008

Debra Harmon doesn't consider sheltering unwanted dogs a criminal act. ...more

February 1, 2008