TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A Tallahassee couple is facing misdemeanor charges after investigators found two neglected dogs inside crates full of urine and feces at their apartment.
Lajerrica Ferrell, 21, and Blake Powell, 18, were arrested for two counts of animal cruelty.
According to complaint documents, Tallahassee Police responded to their apartment in the 2900 block of Apalachee Parkway in January 2018 to speak with Powell, who was a suspect in an aggravated assault.
When they arrived, they spoke with Powell and Ferrell and got permission to search the apartment for evidence. While searching, investigators discovered two dogs on their back porch.
Right away, officers noticed that one of the dogs was inside a crate full of urine and feces while the other was loose on the porch and appeared to be limping.
Ferrell told police that the dog inside the crate belonged to Powell's brother but made statements about feeding and caring for it. She also told them that Powell's brother had other neglected dogs at a home in the 300 block of Pershing Street.
Documents say she granted consent for the officers to take the dog inside the crate for treatment. As soon as the dog was let out the crate, officers noted that the dog ran to a refrigerator drawer that had dirty water inside and began drinking "ravenously."
Before leaving, officers ordered Ferrell and Powell to get the second dog medically treated within 24 hours. The first dog was then transported to a Tallahassee shelter and examined.
A veterinarian determined that the first dog was underweight, anemic, and suffered from hookworms. All four of the dog's feet were also infected which is common when dogs are constantly exposed to dirty conditions.
According to court documents, the vet believed that the dog was a victim of animal cruelty/neglect.
Based on Ferrell's statements, documents say several dogs were removed from the home on Pershing Street the next day. Investigators also found records of a prior animal neglect investigation in August 2017 where Powell claimed two dogs at Pershing Street home were his.
A few days later, animal control responded to the couple's apartment again after receiving an anonymous complaint about their dog. Immediately upon arrival, officers noticed that the second dog was inside the same crate the first dog was in the last time they were there.
Documents say the dog was left outside in 28 degree weather and wrote the floor of the crate was still covered in urine and feces. Powell signed a surrender form for the dog and identified himself as the owner.
When a vet examined the second dog, the vet found the dog had a dirty coat that was infested with live fleas and had "a copious amount of flea feces" in it. The dog also had hookworms and suspected tapeworms.
The vet indicated that the dog was also a victim of animal cruelty/neglect.
A couple days later, animal control got a call from a male and female, later identified as Powell and Ferrell, who asked about adopting one of the dogs that had been seized from the home on Pershing Street.
However, an officer told them that it'd be inappropriate for them to adopt an animal due to them being suspects in an animal cruelty case.
Based on the investigation, officers found probable cause to charge Ferrell and Powell with two counts of animal cruelty. A warrant for their arrest was signed on July 25.
Both Ferrell and Powell were taken into custody on Monday. Both have since bonded out of jail.
