Investigation continues in death last week of wolf hybrid
13 dogs succumb to heat in unrelated incident
By DAVE SHELTON
| Article published on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2006 |
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LARGO – The first dead dog was found last week, its head hanging out of a plastic storage box filled with water. The wolf hybrid was killed by fleas, according to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Tampa Bay.
Investigators said it appeared the dog had sought relief in the water trough where it died.
Just three days later, several miles away, 14 little dogs succumbed to the heat in another kennel – despite living in an air-conditioned shed.
City code inspectors discovered the first dead dog while on patrol in an alley behind the home of Jimmy Walton, 44, at 424 Seventh Ave. N.E. Code Enforcement Supervisor Pete Jensen said neighbors had complained that Walton’s home, was overgrown and emitted a foul odor of animal excrement.
After seeing two wire fenced pens housing the big wolf-dogs, Jensen drove around to the front of the house to record the address. On further investigation, he and Investigator Kevin Pool started writing citations for overgrowth and debris in the yard.
“Then I saw this dog in a (plastic) tote filled with water,” Jensen said. “Its head was hanging out of the tote and he was obviously dead.”
Four more of the hybrids were inside the pens and also appeared in poor condition and suffering.
Jensen called the police who then called in SPCA agents who seized the dogs to provide medical attention. Police Officer Amanda Kay said it appeared the severely malnourished dogs were infested with fleas.
A necropsy was performed on the dead dog by the organization’s veterinarian, Dr. John P. Mead, who confirmed the police suspicions.
“This dog suffered from such neglect and external parasitism that likely led to debilitating anemia and was in a state of starvation,” wrote Mead.
Largo police Chief Lester Aradi reported that Walton said he was given two of the wolf-dogs in January and three more in May by a wolf-dog rescue organization. Aradi said Walton admitted the dogs were in good condition when he received them.
Dawn Bednar, founder of Federal Wolf Dog Rescue, Largo, said she was astounded to hear what had happened.
“We just had, two weeks before, one of the males that was in the pen with the dead female at a ‘Meet And Greet’ at (a pet store in Largo Mall),” Bednar said. “Employees there will testify that that dog had no fleas at that time.”
Bednar said she found the incident “mind boggling.” She said the five wolf-dogs had been bounced among several foster homes before she turned them over to Walton.
She wouldn’t say where they had been rescued from. She also confirmed Walton’s admission that they were in good condition before they were given to him.
“We should be able to trust him,” Bednar said. “I’ve known Jim for 30 years. He was around when I founded Federal Wolf Dog Rescue.”
Based upon the information she obtained, she concluded “I believe he totally ignored the dogs, for whatever reason.”
“We saw nothing that indicated that on his worst day he would turn his back on any animals to the point where they could die,” she said. “If he had any problems he knew he only had to pick up the phone and call us. He’s seen real animal cruelty.”
Bednar said she had spoken to Walton on the telephone just days before he was arrested.
“All he said was that he was getting low on dog food,” she said.
Meanwhile, Walton spent his birthday, Aug. 7, in the Pinellas County Jail where he was being held on $40,000 bail on two felony charges of animal cruelty and for an unrelated Pasco County warrant for $14,000 in support payments.
Bednar has threatened legal action to regain custody of the wolf-dogs. The SPCA, meanwhile, is continuing its investigation, noting that Bednar had obtained dog licenses for the dogs, listing them as malamutes rather than hybrid wolves.
Tragic accident
In an unrelated incident, the grisly remains of 13 dogs were found in a kennel Aug. 7 at Pinellas County Animal Services on Ulmerton Road. A note was left with the owner’s name, Diane M. Duke, and her telephone number.
The note explained that the dogs had died in her kennel on 21st Court S.W.
Meanwhile, SPCA employee Rick Levi received a telephone call from Belcher Emergency Veterinary Clinic reporting that they were treating four dogs for heat stroke.
The dog breeder told investigators that she had left the 13 carcasses in the county kennel. One of the dogs being treated also died. A necropsy showed that all 14 dogs had died from heat-related conditions.
Three other dogs, also with heat-related symptoms were also being treated, according to SPCA Executive Director Beth Lockwood.
Duke told investigators that one of her dogs had died last year of heat stroke so she had built a shed with a wall-unit air conditioner. On Monday, investigators learned, the air conditioner stopped working during a thunderstorm and Duke didn’t know it, as everything was normal in her house.
But, when she went to check on the dogs at 4:30 p.m., she found the kennel silent. Hoping the dogs were just unconscious, she hosed them down but could only get four of the dogs to respond.
Aradi said the dead dogs included mostly pugs, two king cavalier spaniels, two Chihuahuas. Surviving were one adult pug, one pug puppy and a sheltie.
“It appears this was a very unfortunate accident,” said Lockwood.
“We will not pursue animal cruelty charges because this appears to have been accidental. She appears to have taken very good care of her animals.”
Lockwood said Duke had six other dogs that lived inside of the home and all appeared clean and healthy.
Aradi reported on police findings:
“The kennels were in disarray due to them pulling the dogs out quickly but were otherwise clean and in good order. There was evidence that she (Duke) feeds a high quality dog food and water was present in the bowls in the kennels.
“The dogs all appeared to be in good physical condition and appeared to have been well cared for. The backyard was very clean and free of dog feces. There was no evidence of abuse or neglect.
“The residence was also clean and free of debris and parasites.”
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Article published on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2006
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