A Marion County woman is facing two counts of animal neglect after a deceased dog and cat were discovered in July in an apartment that had reportedly been unoccupied since January.
Brooklynn Showers, 32, of Melcher-Dallas has been charged with two counts of Animal Neglect with Serious Injury or Death, both Aggravated Misdemeanors. A warrant in the case was served on September 25th.
According to court documents, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office received a call on July 27th about an apartment that had not been lived in since January, with neighbors reporting a bad smell, excessive bugs, and a deceased dog visible through a window. Deputies arrived and observed a decomposed dog wearing a blue collar and harness through the main window of the apartment. Neighbors identified the tenant as Showers and said she had a dog with a blue collar and harness and a cat in one of the bedrooms.
When reached by phone, Showers told investigators there had never been a cat in the apartment and that the dog had been given away in January, saying she had been living with her grandmother since that time. A search warrant was obtained and executed. The dog was removed from the apartment and a deceased cat was found in a bedroom. Both animals were turned over to the Animal Health Center of Knoxville for autopsy and disposal. The veterinarian’s findings indicated both animals had died from severe malnourishment and abandonment and had likely been deceased for months prior to their discovery.
Following her initial appearance, bond was set at $2,000 cash or surety. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 6th.
