JONESBORO, Ark. – A local woman is in trouble with the law again, accused of animal cruelty on a dog she was already charged with the same offense on.
Before 8 a.m. on Dec. 16, Jonesboro Animal Control Officer Mike Owens went to 2509 Brooke McQueen about an email tip stating a dog had no food or water. On a day where the temperature was 27 degrees, Owens found a black and tan rottweiler in a metal kennel with no food or water.
“It looked as if the dog had been there all night,” Owens reported. “Lots of waste was in the kennel. I gave it food and water, which it consumed very quickly.”
Owens took photos of the dog and left a door hanger for the resident to contact back. The officer knew the animal’s owner was Doniece Harper, 28, of Jonesboro – reportedly having cited her for dog at large and cruelty to animals in the past six months.
He returned to the residence at noon to find the dog running up to him and also, still unattended. This time, Owens took the dog.
The suspect called animal control at 4 p.m. that afternoon, saying she would come by animal control on Dec. 19. However, Owens noted she did not show up at animal control, like she said, and asked to show up the next day. Owens came in on his vacation day, for three hours, and once again, Harper did not show up. She eventually came that afternoon.
Harper was cited for cruelty to animals, second offense, and set a court date of 1 p.m. on Jan. 4. She also had a court date for cruelty to animals, on the same dog, Wednesday morning.
Maybe they will take the animal and not let her have any more. Maybe she has some friends or family members who will thump her upside the head. We can only hope.
Please do not let this person have the dog! 2nd time and she’s still doing it! Charge her to the fullest extent of the law. No animals ever again!