SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) – Sarasota Police arrested Diana Stevens, 41, earlier this month on numerous animal abuse and cruelty charges. Two weeks after announcing her arrest, authorities said they had heard from about 75 people concerned that their pets might be victims of animal abuse.
“The response has been amazing. There were a lot of concerned owners. Our pets are like family, so it's important for pet owners to take their animals in for care and grooming, and to think about what they might be doing. “It's shocking, terrifying and horrifying to know that this could have happened to us if we had done so.” Cynthia McLaughlin, public information officer for the Sarasota Police Department.
Police said they had obtained video evidence from a 17-day period last August that showed Stevens abusing multiple cats and dogs under his control.
“It's unclear how many pets were sacrificed. These cases are difficult because they require evidence, but in this case, it's the video that supports many of the animal cruelty claims that are occurring here,” McLaughlin said. said.
Police will soon review additional video evidence obtained from the former Woof Gang Bakery and Grooming location on Tamiami Trail in Sarasota. The store has since closed. The latest videos are from February and March of this year.
David Kelley has been a customer of the business for about a year. He brought his two cats and two dogs to Woof Gang for grooming. He recalls one of his Jack Russell terriers wrapping its paw around his leg during his last scheduled appointment. His other terrier left another appointment with a 2-inch cut around his neck. He says he thought there must have been an accident at the time.
He and his wife then reported their concerns to Sarasota police.
“When I actually look back, there's no good explanation for this. This was abuse, it had to be abuse. I remember how Roxy grabbed me and begged me not to leave her there. “I think all the little red flags, maybe we weren't that little, they were actually pretty big red flags,” Kelly said.
He said he was shocked and upset to learn of Stevens' arrest earlier this month.
“I stayed up most of that night just thinking about how they acted when I put them there. I think about people who treat animals badly.” Kelly said. “They are our babies. When we take them to people and leave them with them all day, we implicitly trust them. It was an abuse of trust.” not only abused animals, but abused us by abusing animals.”
Stevens' attorney sent a statement to 8 On Your Side Wednesday after reviewing the video of her actions and reading the veterinarian's evaluation the state used to evaluate the video.
“It is clear that Ms. Stevens' conduct fell far below the standard of criminal conduct. We look forward to proving her innocence on these charges,” attorney Mark Zimmerman said in a statement. mentioned in.
Sarasota Police are asking for the public's patience as the investigation continues.
Anyone with information regarding this case can email Detective Sullivan at jessica.sullivan@sarasotaFL.gov or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-TIPS or Share online at www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com.
