Justice 4 Chained Dog Starved to Death FL

Charles Lee Johnson allowed his CHAINED dog, *Hooch*, to STARVE TO DEATH in Nov 2009 Pensacola, FL. Animal Control and the Escambia County Sheriffs Dept were called out.  The State Attorneys Office filed FELONY Cruelty Charges on Jan. 13, 2010 for the death of *Hooch*, but Johnson was not located and the warrant was not able to be served.

Johnson was finally ARRESTED on Feb. 17, 2009 at a Country Club in Pensacola where he works as a COOK!

Here is the arrest/court info on this case# 2010 CF 000173 A:

http://www.escambiaclerk.com/xml/xml.asp?ucase_id=65578624

3rd Degree Felony Animal Cruelty CAUSE CRUEL DEATH PAIN AND SUFFERING ANIMALS

1st Degree Misdemeanor Charges on 2 other dogs: UNLAWFUL CONFINEMENT ABANDONMENT OF ANIMAL

Charles Johnson will be arraigned before Judge Rasmussen on March 11, 2010 at 9 AM at M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building, 190 Government St., Pensacola, FL 32502

** PLEASE write to Judge Rasmussen and politely ask him to sentence Johnson to the maximum penalty IF Johnson pleads guilty that day (doubt that he will). The pain and suffering that dog endured clearly calls for the maximum penalty. Its hard to imagine a worse crime of animal cruelty than starving a chained dog to death.  We need to send a message that blatant and heinous cruelty will not be tolerated. If Johnson pleads not guilty, I will update as to the next court date and the presiding Judge.

The Honorable Paul Rasmussen

190 Government St.

Pensacola, FL 32502

Phone # (850) 850-595-4351

Fax # 850-595-0056

Here are the FL Cruelty Statutes under which he's being charged:

http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusfl828_01_29.htm#s12

The 3rd degree FELONY charge (for starving to death) would fall under:

(2) A person who intentionally commits an act to any animal which results in the cruel death, or excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering, or causes the same to be done, is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.

The other two charges 1st degree misdemeanor (failing to provide shelter, food, water) fall under:

1) A person who unnecessarily overloads, overdrives, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance or shelter, or unnecessarily mutilates, or kills any animal, or causes the same to be done, or carries in or upon any vehicle, or otherwise, any animal in a cruel or inhumane manner, is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or both.

From the Animal Control Officers Report:

 The third dog a brown male pitbull was dead at the end of his chain. The dog had no food, water or shelter. The dog was very thin.

We called out a deputy who after arriving on scene called crime scene to take pictures. After crime scene took photos we removed the dogs and brought them to the shelter vet for evaluation (see animal profile).

From the Shelter Veterinarians Report:

This poor animal was starved to emaciation. It was literally skin over bones. It was extremely and fatally anemic from starvation and hookworm infestation. It%u2019s quality of life would have to be considered incompatible with life.

** Because a Good Samaritan cared enough about this case, he volunteered many hours tracking down the defendant, and when found, he called the Sheriffs Office to make the arrest. Justice for Hooch would not be possible without this Good Sams help. THANK YOU!