Target: Jack Campbell, State Attorney for the Second Judicial Circuit of Florida
Goal: Secure the harshest available sentence for the man who reportedly let his emaciated, flea-infested dog die after refusing veterinary care.
Buck, a nine-year-old mixed-breed dog, was reportedly discovered chained to a post—skin stretched over bones, ants swarming empty food and water bowls, and fleas visibly crawling across open, blood-specked wounds. Deputies say the starving, lethargic dog’s entire skeletal structure was apparent through his fur. According to investigators, when animal control presented owner David Shane Byrd with a court order demanding immediate veterinary treatment, he allegedly replied, “I’m not taking the dog to the vet; that’s not going to happen.”
Despite intervention by officers and emergency veterinarians, Buck’s reported condition was so advanced that he survived only three weeks after removal from the property. A necropsy attributed his death to complications from extreme emaciation and untreated disease. Authorities have charged Byrd with animal cruelty, and he now sits in county jail.
Florida law allows for significant penalties in severe cruelty cases, yet too often abusers receive lenient plea deals. A clear, uncompromising sentence—prison time, steep fines, and a lifetime ban on animal ownership—would honor Buck’s suffering and deter future neglect. Urge the State Attorney to pursue every charge to its fullest extent and champion justice for Buck.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear State Attorney Campbell,
Deputies and veterinarians have described a scene of shocking neglect: Buck, a senior dog, reportedly chained outside with no food or water, riddled with fleas, bleeding from bites, and so emaciated that his bones were visible. When officers ordered owner David Shane Byrd to seek urgent medical help, he allegedly refused. Buck died weeks later despite intensive care.
This case seemingly embodies aggravated cruelty. The dog’s reported prolonged starvation, insect infestation, and untreated illness demonstrate a pattern of deliberate disregard for suffering. Florida statutes provide for meaningful punishment, yet effective deterrence depends on vigorous prosecution and maximum sentencing.
We respectfully request that your office pursue all applicable felony penalties, seek incarceration rather than probation, impose substantial fines, and advocate a permanent prohibition on animal ownership. A decisive response will affirm that Wakulla County values the lives of companion animals and will not tolerate such brutality.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Dey Alexander
