Man Charged With Animal Cruelty Gets Dogs Back
A man in West Jacksonville, FL who fled from the storm last week left his two dogs chained up in the carport. Two city workers found the dogs and saved them from drowning.
The owner, David Hamm, went to a city shelter to seek refuge from the storm. He will now face two animal cruelty tickets and fines of up to $1,000, said Robert Currey, a field supervisor for Jacksonville Animal Care and Control.
Luckily, an anonymous tip notified Animal Care and Control officers, who went to rescue the dogs by boat. The officials felt Hamm’s decision was more irresponsibility than cruelty.
While I understand the need to take shelter during a storm it is incomprehensible to me that you would leave your dogs chained in an area where you know they could drown. The city opened over 10 shelters for the storm, including at least two pet-friendly ones.
One of the animals, a Labrador mix, was standing for hours in water that sometimes reached his chest and had a skin condition from long before Friday, Currey said. Neither of the dogs was licensed, but both were up to date on their shots, said Fred Forbes, interim division chief of Animal Care and Control.
Field supervisor, Robert Currey, stated “Legally, there was not a reason we could keep them from getting the dogs back.” Apparently, absolute disgust doesn’t fall under the realm of the law.
How about complete lack of disregard for your pets well being? Chained up and in the water IS abuse. They could AT LEAST cite this man and keep an eye on the situation. He does not deserve to have pets!
Why would the man take them back when he has made it clear that he has no intention of caring for them PROPERLY?
Why would animal control even consider giving animals back to a man who clearly has neglected and abandoned them?
A longstanding and untreated skin condition should be proof enough that he neglected the one animal. Before the other dog is in need of medical attention, they should both be taken away and placed in loving and caring homes. As for Mr. Hamm? He needs to be prosecuted and legally banned from ever owning an animal again.
I cannot comprehend the reason in this man’s mind for leaving these dogs chained up. Did he think they would be “ok” when he returned? It shows he did not care about thier safety or welfare. The is something wrong with the law that allows for these dogs to be returned to this man. We have an animal evacuation plan in place. We would never leave any of our pets behind. We live in earthquake country, but a flood could happen anywhere. This man does not deserve to have those sweet dogs returned to him because is an abuser. My heart goes out to the sweet dogs.
thats awful. i feel so bad for those poor dogs. no one deserses to be abused. i just hope they will be ok with him.
Any dog CHAINED UP is abused if you want a friggin lawn ornament to impress your nieghbors go buy one! This guy should be chained up for a while maybe he’ll get a clue but I doubt it.
They did NOT have to give the dogs back. Under FL Statute Chapter 828 they could have applied to the County Court for custody based on the owner’s inability/unwillingness to provide properly for the dogs. That application, backed up by the criminal charges, would have probably resulted in the awarding of custody to Animal Control and the ability to adopt those dogs out. Another instance of Animal Control not knowing their job there.
The only truly just action would be to leave this guy chained in the same place the next time there’s a storm in his area, and let him maybe get an understanding of what he put these poor dogs through. In animal abuse cases, People like him give humans a bad name, and they certainly should never be allowed to have animals again.
I’m sicken to read this , how stupid can you be. This man deserves to go to jail for abuse. I’m sitting here looking at this beautiful dog and it brings tears to my eyes. How this guy just walked away like nothing. And they are returning the DOGS. WRONG.
Right on Sam! – Why are we humans so soft on idiots like this bozo! – this guy should be chained up and left outside.. Ohh no!, that would be cruel….. Those poor dogs should be given better homes, not going back to the obvious cruelty they have already received..
OK – so they are basically CHARGING him with Cruelty, but have no legal reason to stop him from getting the dogs back?!?!?! Hmmmm – something sounds a little backwards to me there!
Tie him up. Give him fleas and lice. Leave him there in all weather, every day.
[...] few days ago I posted an article, Man Charged With Animal Cruelty Gets Dogs Back, about the man in Florida who left his dogs chained in the carport while he took shelter from a [...]
[...] few days ago I posted an article, Man Charged With Animal Cruelty Gets Dogs Back, about the man in Florida who left his dogs chained in the carport while he took shelter from a [...]