LUFKIN, Texas (KTRE) – Two Lufkin residents are accused of severely abusing animals after one suspect called law enforcement attempting to blame the mistreatment on the other.
Monica Cheyenne Smith, 21, and Joe Lee Pounders, 24, are in the Angelina County Jail on two charges each of cruelty to animals: torture. According to an arrest affidavit that KTRE requested from the county, officials found two severely malnourished dogs after Smith called law enforcement to report Pounders for poisoning the animals.
The document says the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office responded to Smith’s call Friday, Jan. 10, at the home she shared with Pounders on Tom Taylor Avenue in Lufkin. Smith told responders that Pounders, who she referred to as her ex, had possibly poisoned her dogs. Smith was said to claim that the dogs were healthy when she had left the house the previous night, and were in poor condition when she returned.
The report then describes the two dogs pointed out by Smith: The smaller of the two was laying in a pile of trash under a carport with no housing or bedding. The larger was on the porch under a blanket. Both were extremely underweight, malnourished, unable to move and barely breathing, the report says. The temperature outside was about 30 degrees at the time.
The two dogs were taken for emergency medical care, and were reported to be hypothermic from the lack of shelter and anemic from an extreme amount of fleas. One died soon after being rescued, and officials were told the other required euthanasia. Four other animals were later found at the home, also in extremely malnourished conditions, the document says.
The arrest warrant, signed on Tuesday, requested two charges of animal cruelty for both Smith and Pounders, saying that the two occupants of the home had tortured and killed two animals with their lack of care, food and shelter.
Both remain in the Angelina County Jail at the time of reporting. Bonds have not yet been set.
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