Dog owner pleads guilty to animal cruelty

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- A Durham woman pleaded guilty to one charge of misdemeanor cruelty to animals, months after sheriff's deputies discovered the woman's dog emaciated, illegally tethered and abandoned outside her home.

Laquita Renee Brown, 34, of 1402 Wydlewood Rd in Durham, received a 15-day suspended sentence and one year probation as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. She has also been ordered to pay more than $1,200 in restitution and is prohibited from owning dogs in the future.

The Animal Protection Society of Durham says it spent more than $1,700 to rehabilitate and house Brown's dog since it was surrendered to sheriff's deputies July 12.

The case began when sheriff's deputies responded to 2811 Owen St in Durham on July 11 after a concerned neighbor called to report that the dog, now named Remy, had been tethered outside for days in 100-plus degree heat with no food, water or shelter.

Deputies found the dog in extremely poor health and worked to make contact with the person responsible for the care of the dog. After making contact with Brown on July 12, she agreed to surrender the dog to deputies.

The day Remy was brought to the APS of Durham, she weighed only 16.7 pounds. Just seven days later, her body weight increased 35 percent to 22.6 pounds. Today, Remy weighs a healthy 41.9 poundsa 150 percent increase from the day deputies found her.

Remy has now made a full recovery and is available for adoption at the APS of Durham located at 2117 E Club Blvd in Durham. The volunteers at the shelter call Remy "one of their favorites" that is in need of a calm, patient and loving home. Anyone interested in adopting Remy should visit the APS of Durham during business hours, call (919) 560-0640 or e-mail doginfo@apsofdurham.org. Remy's online "profile" is available at www.apsofdurham.org/remy.

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