A Brevard County pet owner is facing three counts of animal neglect after three dogs were found chained outside a home in what neighbors say were deplorable conditions.
- Palm Bay pet owner facing 3 counts of animal neglect
- Neighbors reported dogs were chained in backyard
- Dogs will be put up for adoption once deemed healthy
Brevard Animal Services officers were at the White Plains Avenue home in Palm Bay Monday morning where they took the three mixed breed dogs.
Neighbors reported the dogs being chained up in the backyard.
There were empty water bowls and feces around dog crates on the back of the property, as well as trash all around the yard.
"They were attacking each other one day," said a neighbor named Ashley. "Fighting. They told us 'they do that.’ What?"
She said the property has had problems for months, and her heart was always going out to the animals outside in the elements.
"These dogs were left out when we had those cold temperatures, they were left out in the heat," she said.
"They don't know what happened, they don't know what was going on," said Richard Withington, whose mother owns the dogs and says the neighbors are ganging up on their family.
He said they fell on hard times and had to sell the house, but the dogs were always given food, water and were taken care of.
"They were not malnourished," Withington said. "Well, one of them was a little malnourished because his wife (another dog) was taking his food. So we separated them, and he got weight. And he's got weight now."
Withington agreed to surrender the three dogs, and they were loaded up and taken to the shelter.
The neighbor hopes this is a new beginning for them.
"I'm glad the dogs have a second chance at a loving home," Ashley said.
A first offense of animal neglect carries a $200 fine.
Once the dogs are checked out by a veterinarian and deemed healthy, we're told they will be put up for adoption.