Woman Accused Of Starving Dog Of Jailed Beau

By MIKE WELLS The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 9, 2008

Bones protruded under the fur of the emaciated pit bull lying at the bottom of the small wooden crate.

Surrounded by fecal matter and kept without food or water, the dog had lost more than half its weight.

Motionless, and with no detectable pulse or blood pressure, the brown and white dog outside the Plant City home showed no signs of life.

Until she moved her eyes.

That tiny motion under the eyelids prompted a Hillsborough County Animal Services investigator to rush the dog Monday night to an emergency veterinary hospital, Animal Services spokeswoman Marti Ryan said.

Weighing just 21 pounds and too weak to move, the dog was fed intravenously until it was strong enough to drink water and eat soft food.

A concerned resident reported the dog's treatment, Ryan said.

"This was one of the worst cases of starvation we've ever seen," she said.

Monday night, Jekea R. Vickers, 29, of 608 Bethune Drive told a Plant City police officer she never wanted the dog anyway, Ryan said.

Vickers told police the pit bull belonged to her boyfriend who was in jail and that she had done nothing wrong because she called Animal Services about two months ago to pick up the dog, Ryan said.

That's not how it works, the agency spokeswoman said.

"We are not a delivery service," Ryan said. "She has to come and bring it to us. It's her property and she knew it."

Vickers was arrested on Wednesday of one felony count of animal cruelty by starvation and a misdemeanor of improper confinement of an animal without food or water, Ryan said.

Vickers was released from Orient Road Jail later that day after posting a $2,500 bond. She declined to comment Thursday.

Animal Services workers named the dog Mizz Ginny after one of the investigators in the case and are working hard to save her, Ryan said. So far, the dog has reacted positively and has shown no signs of aggression, Ryan said.

Her recovery is uncertain because she tested positive for heartworms, Ryan said.

Treating heartworms can cost in the hundreds of dollars, which usually deters people from considering adopting dogs like Mizz Ginny, Ryan said.

"If she recovers, we will go about the procedure of finding a rescue group to take her in," Ryan said.

Reporter Mike Wells can be reached at (813) 259-7839 or mwells@tampatrib.com.