TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Cruelty Charges Against Pet Store Owner Dropped

ADVERTISEMENT

By GEORGE NEWMAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 8, 2007

PLANT CITY - Prosecutors have dropped felony animal-cruelty charges brought against a local pet store owner.

There was not enough evidence to proceed with the charges against Gary Mark Hicks, owner of Pet City Center at 1103 Wheeler St., said a spokeswoman for the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office. The charges included felony counts of animal cruelty and improper confinement of animals.

Hicks, 37, and his girlfriend, Heather Morrison, 19, were arrested Sept. 20 in connection with treatment of a dog the couple kept at their home.

Hicks faced an additional count of animal cruelty. Authorities accused him of mistreating a dog brought to his shop for grooming.

Prosecutors dropped the charges Tuesday. Hicks said he learned of their dismissal Friday.

"This was a witch hunt from the very beginning," Hicks said Friday. "There was a huge deal made out of this when it first broke. The things that were alleged against me were outrageous."

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451 or gnewman@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT