Polk County, Florida – A Polk County, Florida, woman is facing felony charges after she “forgot” to feed three dogs. One of the dogs starved to death inside of a wire cage on her porch, and two others were emaciated by the time that they were found. Polk County officials identify 52-year-old Dashong Bonner as the person who neglected the three dogs at her Bartow home.
Please sign the petition today to put Bonner away for as long as possible! Who “forgets” to feed their dogs? She must never be allowed to harm another animal and we need your help to convince court officials that these dogs mattered, and that Bonner deserves to be punished!
The three dogs kept at Dashong Bonner’s home suffered tremendously. One dog literally starved to death in a wire cage, left on a filthy porch, before the authorities discovered what was happening.
The report from animal control reveals the true horror of what these dogs endured.
Dog #1, a brown in color female Pit Bull Terrier named Mocha, was located in a wire kennel with no plastic floor, covered in feces, with a 1/2 eaten plastic dog food bag in the kennel. In the bottom of the kennel were pieces of plastic the dog had digested and passed with its feces. The dog could barely stand and was carried to the animal control transport vehicle at the scene. Upon an evaluation of the dog by the Polk County Animal Control Veterinarian the dog was found to have a body score of a 1, with 1 being completely emaciated and 9 being obese. The dog was found to be suffering from heart worms and hook worms, anemic, severely underweight, and weighing only 24.1 pounds at approximately 5 years of age. This dog suffered repeated pain trying to stay alive eating a plastic dog food bag. The dog was unable to escape the wire kennel and attempt to hunt for food or water.
Dog #2, a tan Cur mix female dog named Caramel, was located roaming in the yard of the residence. The dog was severally underweight and was picked up and carried to the animal control transport vehicle at the scene. Upon an evaluation of the dog by the Polk County Animal Control Veterinarian the dog was found to have a body score of a 2. The dog weighed 22 pounds and was determined to be approximately 1 year old. The dog was found to be suffering from hook worms, whip worms, and heart worms. The dog was denied proper food and water or proper care.
Dog #3, a tan Cur mix male dog named Buster, was located in a wire kennel on the open back porch of the residence. The dog was found to be deceased. The dog was removed from the property and taken to Animal Control where it was found to have a body score of a 1. The dog had no visible fat on its body and appeared to be skin and bones. The dog clearly suffered a cruel death by starving to death inside a wire kennel with no food or water, and no way to escape to hunt for food or water. The floor of the kennel had one small piece of very dry feces in it indicating the dog had not had any food over an extended period of time.
When Bonner was questioned about the dogs, she admitted that she didn’t know when she had last fed them. She also claimed that she didn’t know that one of the dogs was dead inside of the wire cage on her porch. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said:
“Our Ag Crimes detectives and Animal Control personnel have seen some pretty awful things, but this is the worst case of animal cruelty they’ve encountered in a very long time.”
What Dashong Bonner did to these dogs is unconscionable! Death by starvation is a slow and painful process and it should go without saying that these dogs suffered greatly because of this woman’s abhorrent neglect.
Dashong Bonner is charged with two felony counts of animal cruelty, and one count misdemeanor animal cruelty, and she must receive the maximum sentence for each and every charge. We need your support to ensure that this happens – please add your name to the petition today! We will also be asking for Dashong Bonner to be forbidden from ever owning a pet again.
News:
Animal-Protection-Laws-of-Florida-2020-Animal-Legal-Defense-Fund
Individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Update 6/08/2022: Animal Victory has learned that this case was terminated and dismissed because the defendant is deceased. We thank everyone who took the time to sign the petition.
Update 5/1/2022: Animal Victory has learned that the pre-trial conference has been scheduled for 5/9/2022 at 8:30 a.m. at the Bartow Courthouse. Animal Victory has sent 28,405 signatures to Prosecutor Benjamin Hardin.
Update 4/4/2022: Animal Victory has learned that the next court date is scheduled for 4/18/2022.
Update 2/3/2022: Animal Victory has learned that the pretrial is scheduled for 2/28/2022.
Update: 11/30/2021: Animal Victory has learned that the next court date is scheduled for January 04, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. at the Bartow Courthouse.
Update 7/12/2021: Animal Victory has learned that the arraignment is scheduled for August 2, 2021 at 8:15 a.m. at the Barrow Courthouse.
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