(DALLAS, TX); October 5, 2018 – Yesterday afternoon, the SPCA of Texas, the Dallas County District Attorney's Office and the Dallas Police Department arrested Trevor Deamon Kennedy, 48, the owner of one allegedly cruelly treated dog, a 3-year-old female Pit Bull Terrier/Boxer mix, taken in by the SPCA of Texas on September 27, 2018 from a property in Southeast Dallas. This is the third arrest that has been made in regards to cases of animal cruelty in Dallas County within the past week.

The owner of the dog seized on September 27, 2018 was charged with Cruelty to Non-Livestock Animals for "tortures an animal or in a cruel manner kills or causes serious bodily injury to an animal," a third-degree felony. The owner was booked in to the Lew Sterrett Justice Center on a $15,000 bond and is awaiting trial.

On Thursday, September 27, 2018, the SPCA of Texas took custody of one allegedly cruelly treated dog from a property in Southeast Dallas after receiving a complaint of suspected animal cruelty earlier that day. The dog was found in the backyard of the property, tethered to a tree, with no visible access to food or shelter. The cable used to restrain the dog appeared to be embedded in her neck, causing injury that undoubtedly also caused excruciating pain as the cable slowly cut through the dog's skin. The dog also appeared to be significantly underweight, with its ribs, spine and hip bones prominently visible. The SPCA of Texas' Investigator spoke to the owner about the severity of the dog's condition, and the owner agreed to surrender custody of the dog to the SPCA of Texas. The dog was transported to the SPCA of Texas' Russell E. Dealey Animal Rescue Center, where she immediately received a forensic examination by a licensed veterinarian.

During the examination, the dog was determined to be malnourished, having a body condition score (BCS) of 1/9. For reference, a BCS of 4-5/9 is considered ideal using the Purina Body Scoring System. The cable used to tether the dog was embedded through the skin and underlying dermal tissue and had to be removed using bolt cutters. The cable was embedded so deeply that it almost reached the cervical vertebrae of the spine. Surgery was later performed to remove the embedded cable and repair the neck tissue, and due to the extent of the wounds, subsequent surgeries may be necessary.

To download photos of some of the dogs, CLICK HERE

In this case, the investigation revealed evidence that proved the owner caused serious bodily injury in a cruel manner by not feeding the dog and ignoring her neck wounds. Multiple interviews were conducted to establish who was in care, custody and control of the dog, which led to an arrest warrant being generated on October 4, 2018, signed by the Honorable Judge Gracie Lewis. The warrant was served and the suspect was arrested that same day.

The SPCA of Texas investigated this case pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the SPCA of Texas and the Dallas Police Department designed to help bring perpetrators of animal cruelty to justice. For more information about the MOU and how the SPCA of Texas investigates animal cruelty, please visit www.spca.org/acistats.