Two Clearwater women were arrested Thursday on felony animal-cruelty charges after deputies say a small senior dog was thrown from a moving SUV and left with severe injuries. According to deputies, the incident happened Jan. 22 near 14019 66th St. N, when Princess, a 3-pound senior dog, was tossed from the passenger window of an SUV traveling about 50 mph. Both defendants were booked, and the case is now pending in Pinellas County Circuit Court.
The women have been identified as 54-year-old twins Tracey Denise Fitzgerald and Stacey Latoya Fitzgerald. Neighbors and medical staff are cited in the arrest affidavit that led to the charges. Deputies say a witness saw Tracey throw Princess from the front passenger window, and that the dog landed roughly five feet away on the sidewalk. The affidavit alleges the animal suffered bleeding from an eye, body abrasions, and exposed parts of the cranium. It also states that Stacey, listed as the dog’s owner, refused to sign paperwork authorizing a $1,000 hold for emergency veterinary care. Both women were arrested last Thursday and bond was set at $5,000 apiece, as reported by IONTB.
What the charges carry
Under Florida law, cruelty to animals can range from a first-degree misdemeanor to aggravated animal cruelty, a third-degree felony that can carry up to five years in prison and fines as high as $10,000. Judges can also order mandatory counseling or additional fines in particularly egregious cases, according to the Florida Senate. Prosecutors will decide whether to pursue aggravated counts or lesser charges as the investigation and review of court records continue.
Local pattern of prosecutions
The allegations are landing in a county that has already seen several high-profile animal-cruelty cases in recent years. In one 2024 case, the sheriff’s office investigated the killing of a rescue dog named Dexter, who was found decapitated. That prosecution drew intense local coverage and public protests, according to reporting by FOX 13. Court records for the Fitzgerald case remain pending and were the basis for the arrest affidavit reviewed by IONTB.
How to report suspected cruelty
Anyone with information about the Jan. 22 incident or other suspected animal abuse is asked to contact the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, which lists a non-emergency line at 727-582-6200 and advises calling 911 for crimes in progress, per the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Local animal-welfare organizations and county animal services can also be contacted for help with injured animals or to report concerns.
