A 28-year-old Lauderhill woman, Alison Marie Arthur, has been arrested on charges of animal cruelty after her dog, named Orey, had to be euthanized due to severe neglect and maltreatment. Authorities discovered the wounded dog chained outside her residence on Northwest 55th Avenue, where it had been tied up 24/7 without appropriate shelter, food, or water, as reported by NBC Miami.
According to an investigation by Local 10, the malnourished dog, scoring a mere 2 out of 9 on the body condition scale and a 4 out of 5 stress level, suffered from injuries so severe, including large open sores on her neck, that police believed the dog had been in such conditions for an extended period, possibly for months. Neighbors reportedly tried to alleviate Orey's suffering by providing food after hearing her barks of pain, and the sight of her being rarely walked and essentially neglected pulled at their collective sense of humanity.
The dog's condition was brought to attention on March 10 when Broward County Animal Control responded to a report of severe neglect at the residence. Arthur's father, Jerome McQueen, admitted he couldn’t afford veterinary care for Orey and told officers he didn’t have the funds or a sanitary way to transport the dog to a vet. "Due to the extent of the injuries and the inability to take the dog to the vet, it was an owner surrender, with a request for euthanasia," according to details from NBC Miami. Investigators also found blood on the patio floor, which the residents claimed came from iguanas, but officers, focusing on the dog's condition, discovered two collars embedded in the dog's neck, indicating long-term neglect.
Orey was surrendered to animal control officers, who approved the request for euthanasia due to the dog's severe suffering. Arthur admitted to applying hydrogen peroxide to the wounds but did not seek professional veterinary care. She also claimed the dog was given food and water daily but refused to let her remove the collars. As Orey's primary caretaker, Arthur now faces a charge of aggravated animal cruelty causing death, pain, or suffering. She remains in custody at Broward Main Jail with a $15,000 bond and a court order prohibiting her from owning pets, as indicated in the arrest report obtained by Local 10.
Local authorities have not confirmed whether any charges will be brought against McQueen, who had surrendered the dog to the authorities, as of the latest updates available.
