A Volusia County woman has pleaded no contest to a felony animal cruelty charge after police said she neglected a pit bull so severely that the dog was found emaciated and near death earlier this year in a case that drew widespread attention on social media.
Arriana Ra’shelle Washington, 19, of Port Orange, pleaded no contest to one count of felony cruelty to animals causing unnecessary pain or suffering, according to Volusia County court records. A judge adjudicated Washington guilty and sentenced her to four years of probation. As part of her sentence, she is prohibited from possessing, owning or caring for animals, or living in a household where animals are kept.
The case began in February after the New Smyrna Beach Police Department asked the public to help identify the owner of a severely emaciated tan-and-white pit bull found in the 200 block of Inwood Avenue. According to a probable cause affidavit, the dog weighed just 22 pounds, had virtually no body fat and no underlying medical condition that would explain her condition. Investigators later identified Washington as the dog’s owner after receiving public tips and reviewing witness statements, videos, messages and Ring camera footage.
Since then, the dog, now named Olive, has made a dramatic recovery at the Edgewater Animal Shelter. In March, a judge awarded custody of Olive to the City of New Smyrna Beach, and the police department has shared regular updates documenting her progress.
