Sweet Charity Animal Cruelty Case Trial

One dog's day in court will be March 27th though she committed no crime.

Sweet Charity, a dog taken in by the non-profit group Operation Kindness, a no-kill animal shelter in Carrollton, TX, was the victim of abuse and neglect.

In April 2005, two young women looking at rental houses in Far North Dallas found the five-month-old pit pull puppy chained in the backyard of a vacant duplex.

"The puppy had severe mange and was bleeding from infected, open wounds all over her body; her collar was deeply embedded in her neck; she was dehydrated and malnourished," said Operation Kindness' Executive Director Jonnie England. "The women bundled her up and brought her to Operation Kindness."

Once there the staff immediately took Sweet Charity to a vet but she died 36 hours later. Dallas Animal Services was notified and they did an investigation, filing animal cruelty charges against Ester Arlene Baker who had moved out of the duplex a month earlier. She was indicted by the grand jury in November 2005, according to research.

March 27th will be a jury trial and will take place in Court #2 in the Frank Crowley Courts Building on Industrial Boulevard in Dallas with Judge Lenox Bower presiding. England is expected to testify.

The courts' day usually begins at 9 a.m. and several cases will be set for that trial that day. Juries will have to be impaneled, according to England.

"The actual case probably won't start until after lunch but if you're planning to attend, it would be good to try to arrive at 9 a.m. and spend the day," she said. "Sweet Charity would be grateful to know that so many people care."

The animal cruelty case for a dog named Mercy who died last year is set for April 23rd. Mercy was set on fire by her owner who was later arrested following a reward offer posted twice. Her memorial service was standing room only.

In unrelated animal news, kitten season is coming, with spring marking the beginning of the period when Operation Kindness receives many orphaned kittens and pregnant adult cats into their shelter. They need help in caring for these animals by way of adoptions, foster parenting, and donations.

Foster parents for animals provide care and the shelter furnishes supplies and training.

For information, call the foster coordinator Miia at 972-418-7297 #240 or email her at intake@operationkindness.org.

Operation Kindness will hold another low-cost microchip clinic at the shelter March 25th from noon to 5 p.m. at 3201 Earhart Drive in Carrollton (972-418-PAWS).

The annual garage sale will be conducted April 14th and 15th and Bone Appetit, a fundraiser, will be held May 3rd. Dine out at restaurants around the Metroplex with a portion of your food bill going to help the homeless animals at Operation Kindness.

If you own, manage, or work at an area restaurant and want to participate, call Julie at 972-418-PAWS #261 or email jgoff@operationkindness.org.

The 13th Annual Dog Day Afternoon is coming June 9th at Bob Woodruff Park in Plano. For information, go to operationkindness.org.