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'Skeletal-Like' Dogs Removed From Dover Home

Hillsborough County Animal Services

This is one of the dogs rescued from a Dover home.

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By VALERIE KALFRIN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 29, 2008

Updated: 08/29/2008 01:11 pm

  Charlotte Mathews-Nelson

TAMPA - A Dover woman is being held at Orient Road Jail this morning after animal investigators and deputies found 10 emaciated dogs at her house.

Charlotte Mathews-Nelson, 43, is charged with eight felony counts of animal cruelty and eight misdemeanor counts of depriving animals of food and water. Bail was set at $20,000, records show.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said deputies arrested Mathews-Nelson about 11:25 a.m. Thursday after finding dogs of "skeletal-like appearances."

Some of the dogs had sores and some were sheltered in rusty vehicles, including a school bus, said Hillsborough County Animal Services spokeswoman Marti Ryan.

Mathews-Nelson told deputies she had no money for dog food or veterinary care.

"These folks did not have the means to care for this many animals," Ryan said.

There were several terriers, including a mom nicknamed Precious who is nursing three pups; a pit bull; and a Labrador mix puppy that rescuers called Bus Stop, Ryan said.

"He just looked like a happy little boy," Ryan said of Bus Stop. There was discussion about whether the tiny pup would survive. He was bloated in spots and emaciated in others, she said, but he appears to be doing better.

"He was eating and drinking and wagging his tail and enjoying being wrapped in a towel," Ryan said.

The sheriff's office said this morning that one of the dogs had to be euthanized, but Ryan said this afternoon that none of the dogs was euthanized. She said there was some confusion because of their condition.

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