Palmetto woman arrested after ‘excessive’ animal cruelty, Manatee deputies say
A Palmetto woman faces a felony animal cruelty charge after deputies said she left a dog tied so tightly to a trailer that the tether cut into its neck, exposing tissue and bone.
Deputies arrested Ashley Hutchings, 34, was arrested in April on a charge of aggravated animal cruelty, a third-degree felony, in a case Manatee County investigators say involved weeks or months of neglect.
An attorney representing Hutchings did not immediately respond to the Bradenton Herald’s request for comment.
Deputies with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office responded Feb. 24 to an animal neglect call at a home in the 2800 block of Fourth Avenue East in Palmetto, where they and a Manatee County Animal Services officer found a dog tethered to a white towable trailer with only about 1 to 2 feet of movement, according to an arrest report.
Deputies said the dog was severely underweight at 32 pounds, with its ribs and spine protruding. Investigators said the coated metal tether had become “deeply embedded” in the dog’s neck, causing full-thickness lacerations and exposing deep tissue and bone.
The dog was seized and taken for emergency treatment, where a veterinarian documented severe dehydration, significant weight loss and anemia linked to a heavy flea infestation, according to the sheriff’s office.
Palmetto woman charged in animal abuse case
The veterinarian also noted the dog had a swollen face, likely caused by strangulation from the tether. Deputies wrote that the vet concluded the injuries likely developed over several weeks to months, showing “the dog’s pain and suffering was excessive and repeated.”
During an interview with detectives, Hutchings told investigators she was the dog’s primary caretaker and had been away at a hotel for five days without making a concrete plan for the animal’s care, according to an arrest report. She said she assumed friends or neighbors would take care of the dogs, though she had not arranged that, and other residents at the home told investigators they were not responsible for the animal’s care.
Hutchings also told investigators the dog was not in that condition when she left, though the veterinarian’s assessment indicated the injuries developed over an extended period.
The dog recovered after treatment, receiving stitches and gaining weight to 44 pounds by mid-March, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies arrested Hutchings on April 17 and booked her into the Manatee County Jail, where she remains, according to jail records. Court records show she has pleaded not guilty.
Circuit Judge Frederick Mercurio denied a defense motion to reduce her $25,000 bond during a hearing Tuesday. She is scheduled to be arraigned June 5.
Under Florida law, aggravated animal cruelty is punishable by up to five years in prison.
