An Attala County resident was found guilty of neglect for chaining her dog in rain and freezing temperatures without shelter.Attala County Justice Court Judge Rosie Sample found Turnisa Tower guilty in the case, fined her $425, and barred her from possessing a dog for the next two years.In Defense of Animals received a plea for help for a dog who was chained without access to shelter and was visibly thin and suffering hair loss. Doll Stanley, the organization’s Justice for Animals campaign director, investigated the complaint on January 13. She was joined by Attala County Deputy Scott Chun, who had a seizure order in hand to remove the dog. The dog, now named Charlie, was taken for veterinary care. Tower was given five business days to appeal the seizure and failed to do so. Charlie has been placed with a rescue organization for rehabilitation and will be available for adoption.“The conditions that Charlie was kept in were vile,” said Stanley. “There is no excuse for failing to provide your animals with the necessities of life. In Defense of Animals works with animal guardians to aid them in understanding the needs of their animals, but when it is clear that an animal or animals will not be cared for, legal intervention is the only option.” Stanley was the affiant in the court case against Tower. She gave testimony of Charlie’s neglect and submitted evidence to the court to substantiate her charge of animal cruelty. Tower was charged with cruelty under the Mississippi Dog and Cat Pet Protection Law of 2011, which makes it a misdemeanor to “intentionally or with criminal negligence wound, deprive of adequate food, water, or shelter, or carry or confine in a cruel manner, any domesticated dog or cat.” Conviction is punishable with a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to six months in jail. Justice Court Judge Rosie Sample found Tower guilty of neglect, fined her $425 and ordered her not to possess a dog for the two-year period that the Justice Court has jurisdiction.In Defense of Animals is an animal protection organization that operates Hope Animal Sanctuary and the Justice for Animals Campaign in Carroll County, MS.In Defense of Animals is this week celebrating 28 years of serving animals and communities in the Deep South. The organization carries out educational initiatives and directly rescues and rehomes abused, neglected and homeless animals through its Hope Animal Sanctuary in Carroll County, MS. Its Justice for Animals campaign aids law enforcement and courts to prevent, investigate and prosecute animal cruelty, and works with legislators to both create and improve animal protection laws.
