Tampa Woman Faces Animal Cruelty, Drug Charges

TAMPA - When police entered a woman's house today as part of an investigation into the way she treats her pets, they found a firearm and a substance that appeared to be crystal methamphetamine, police spokeswoman Andrea Davis said.

Chavonne Jennings, of 1407 E. Cayuga St., will be charged with two felony counts of animal cruelty and eight counts of improper confinement, Hillsborough County Animal Services said.

She also likely will face other charges, including one of drug manufacturing, Davis said.

Inside the home, police found 33 grams of crystal methamphetamine, crack cocaine paraphernalia and a 9 mm firearm with the serial number scratched off, a news release states.

Animal Services took eight pit bull mixes from the home, including three puppies. Animal Services had been working with Jennings, 42, for several months because her puppy's "rear legs are not working, and [Jennings] has been notified several times that she needs to take the puppy to a vet," Davis said.

The injured puppy, known as Man, was taken to emergency veterinary care.

A female dog named Jada had cuts that had not been treated. Those cuts are possibly from getting into fights with other dogs, Animal Services spokeswoman Marti Ryan said.

Jennings' husband, Everell Forbes, was found guilty in May of animal cruelty and acknowledged "beating dogs with chains, which he said was necessary because they were fighting, getting into territorial arguments," Ryan said.

Forbes wasn't home today because he was in jail on drug charges, she said.

"I'm about to crack a bottle of champagne," said Erin Depaulis, who lives in the neighborhood. "I'm that excited. I can get a good night's sleep.

Though the dogs are in Animal Services' care, Ryan said it isn't clear whether they will be adoptable.

"I don't know their temperament, and I don't know their health," she said.