An 18-year-old Palm Coast man was arrested Monday after a severely malnourished puppy rescued by Palm Coast Animal Control died from starvation, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
Chance Cordelle Jones, 18, faces one felony count of aggravated animal cruelty and one misdemeanor count of confining an animal without sufficient food or water, court records show. He was arrested Monday and booked into the Flagler County jail on a $3,000 bond.
Deputies began investigating after Jones’ cousin, Michael Flemmings, and Flemmings’ brother discovered the severely emaciated puppy lying in a puddle of urine in a detached garage at Central Landings Apartments on Sunset Boulevard in Palm Coast on July 1, according to the arrest affidavit.
Animal Control removed the dog for emergency veterinary treatment. S.M.A.R.T. Pet Rescue of Flagler County later took custody of the puppy, naming him Sunset.
“Sunset is critical. His condition is heartbreaking to witness,” S.M.A.R.T. Pet Rescue wrote in a social media post. “But he has fought so hard just to get here, and he deserves every chance at survival. We are completely heartbroken — and completely committed to him.”
Despite undergoing intensive emergency treatment, Sunset died July 4 from organ failure due to starvation. According to the affidavit, veterinarians told investigators that “multiple tests and lab results indicated no pre-existing medical condition that would account for the dog’s level of malnourishment.”
Investigators say Jones told them he hid the puppy in a detached garage because he didn’t want anyone to see how malnourished the dog had become. The affidavit alleges the puppy was left there without food, water, fresh air or a way to escape.
Jones received the then-10-week-old female Bluetick Coonhound-Australian Shepherd mix on April 5 from its original owners, who had been trying to rehome a litter of puppies.
According to the affidavit, Flemmings told deputies Jones initially denied the puppy belonged to him. Flemmings said he recognized the dog from previous visits to Jones’ home because of its docked tail. During a follow-up interview, Jones admitted the puppy belonged to him and accepted responsibility for what happened.
“This is one of the most heartless things I’ve seen in my career,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said in a statement. “That puppy couldn’t tell anyone she needed help, and Chance Jones chose to hide her instead of giving her the basic care that would have kept her alive.”
Investigators placed a hold on the puppy’s remains, and a necropsy will be conducted to pending to confirm the cause of death, according to the affidavit.
Jones is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 4 in Flagler County court.
Good. Arrest his sorry a**. There is no excuse, these pets depend on humans for their survival, and don’t choose to die a painful, slow death. But Flemmings deserves it.