A Detroit woman has been charged with the stabbing of her dog, an incident that led her to flee the state, authorities confirmed. Jordan Love, 29, is accused of second-degree killing/torturing of animals and abandoning/cruelty to four to 10 animals after Detroit Animal Control officers discovered a canine with multiple stab wounds in a residence on Manning Street, according to CBS News Detroit.
On the day of the incident, February 7, officers were compelled to enter the home where they found the injured dog along with two other dogs and four cats. After allegedly posting a video of the wounded dog on social media; Love left Michigan and was apprehended on March 20 in Greenville, South Carolina. Following her extradition back to Michigan, Wayne County prosecutors charged her. If convicted; she could face up to nine years in prison, reports FOX 2 Detroit.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy highlighted the gravity of animal abuse cases, stating, "The WCPO has always taken the abuse of animals very seriously. We have impacted legislation and have been proactive with the applicable laws - seeking and fighting to change them in many instances," as per FOX 2 Detroit. Worthy expressed that despite earlier legislative efforts, the severity of this case underscores the need for stricter legislation. "Although we never really anticipated the alleged brutality and cruelty that this case represents, as a result of our earlier efforts, this case is a clear representation of why better laws were needed," she said in a statement obtained by The Detroit News.
The case has brought renewed attention to the issue of animal cruelty in Michigan; which has reportedly seen a spike in such incidents in recent years. Previous cases in the state have involved various forms of animal mistreatment, underscoring an ongoing concern for animal welfare advocates. Love, whose bonds was set at $50,000 with a GPS tether, has upcoming court dates that include a bond redetermination hearing on April 14 and a probable cause conference on April 21, with a preliminary examination scheduled for April 28, according to CBS News Detroit.
