Florida man charged with felony animal abuse after one cocker spaniel died and another left blind
(Abused and Neglected Cocker Spaniel, Image credit: ABC-7 News / SWFL, YouTube)
Yesterday, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office reported on the April 4 arrest of a 59-year-old man from East Naples, Florida, Nickey Cothran, who neglected his two dogs to the extent that one died and the other was left blind.
On March 5, Nickey Cothran surrendered his two dogs to the Humane Society Naples (HSN). Both dogs, cocker spaniels named Percy and Henry, were found to be in extremely poor condition.
Detectives with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office Animal Cruelty Investigations Alliance were notified by HSN’s Chief Medical Officer who informed them both dogs appeared neglected. Henry began gasping and died before any medical intervention could be performed.
An investigation was initiated and detectives contacted Cothran at his home on Boca Ciega Drive on March 7. He was advised that HSN wanted him to sign surrender paperwork for the dogs, which he did.
On March 10, in following up with HSN, detectives learned that an examination of Henry’s body revealed a severe flea infestation with fleas numbering in the thousands in the veterinarian’s estimation. The dog also suffered from a chronic ear infection, dental disease, and had a hole through his stomach wall.
The HSN’s medical staff also informed detectives that Cothran’s other dog, Percy, was also found to be suffering from multiple unmanaged health conditions. His coat was severely matted all over and he also had a severe flea infestation. He had not been groomed for a year or longer and had such bad ear infections he will likely require surgery to remove his ear canals. Percy is also completely blind, has untreated glaucoma and dry eye which will require surgical removal of both eyes to relieve pain. It took HSN staff two hours to remove matted hair representing six percent of Percy’s body weight.
Both Henry and Percy suffered severe, daily, chronic pain and discomfort for what is suspected to be a period of a year or longer. Their chronic conditions were preventable or manageable, but instead were neglected.
“The suffering of these animals was entirely preventable,” said Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk. “We’re thankful for our partners at the Humane Society Naples, who alerted us immediately to this situation so that we could investigate and hold the person responsible accountable.”
Cothran was charged with two counts of “felony cruelty to animals – causing cruel death, pain or suffering.” According to the law, that charge is a third-degree felony. Being convicted on just one count is punishable up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
For more on the story, see the video accompanying this article.
(Source and Nickey Cothran booking photo: Collier County Sheriff’s Office)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
