Target: Hope Knight, District Attorney of Leon County, Texas
Goal: Secure the maximum felony penalty and lifetime animal-ownership ban for the defendant who allegedly left a Maltese to die locked in a kennel without food, water, or electricity.
Neighbors’ concerns prompted deputies to perform a welfare check at an abandoned Hilltop Lakes residence. Inside, officers reportedly encountered the overpowering stench of decomposition and a heartbreaking sight: a small white Maltese dead in a locked crate near the kitchen. The home, authorities say, had no electricity or running water, and conditions suggested it had been deserted for months.
According to investigators, the dog appeared “severely malnourished,” implying a prolonged period of extreme neglect rather than an isolated lapse. Court documents indicate the homeowner, who was staying elsewhere because of a legal dispute, could not remember when she last saw the dog alive. Despite this alleged abandonment, she was quickly released on bond the day after her arrest.
Texas law classifies such apparent cruelty as a third-degree felony carrying potential prison time. Anything less than the stiffest sentence would undermine the seriousness of seemingly intentionally leaving a sentient being to suffer and die. Sign below to demand that a clear message be sent that willful, lethal neglect will not be tolerated—and that offenders will permanently lose the privilege of owning animals.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear District Attorney Knight,
Deputies responding to a welfare check on Golfview Drive reportedly discovered a Maltese dog dead inside a kennel, the house devoid of power or water and apparently uninhabited for weeks. The animal’s emaciated body and the officer’s description of a decomposition odor strongly suggest a lengthy, agonizing death from starvation and thirst.
Such seemingly deliberate abandonment violates both the letter and spirit of Texas Penal Code § 42.092. Given the severity and duration of the suffering reportedly involved, we respectfully urge your office to pursue the highest felony penalties available, including incarceration, significant fines, and a lifetime prohibition on possessing animals.
A strong prosecution will honor this dog’s memory, deter future cruelty, and reaffirm Leon County’s commitment to protecting the most vulnerable. We trust you will act decisively to secure justice in this disturbing case.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Pezibear
