A son has taken responsibility for neglecting his dog, leading to charges being dropped against his mother for aggravated animal cruelty.
The son and rightful owner of the dog, Billy Bob Bishop, 26, entered a guilty plea before General Sessions Judge Bill Locke to the charge of aggravated cruelty to animals and was ordered to serve 10 days of an 11-month, 29-day sentence and make $617 restitution. Charges against his mother, Masel Lou Bishop, were dismissed.
Kim Pettrey from Animal Control and Adoption Center was called to the Bishops’ residence on Russell Lane. Pettrey was told if someone did not go check on the dog, it was going to die. When Pettrey arrived, she found the American bulldog/boxer mix dog in a state of starvation.
There was no one home when Pettrey found the dog. Believing the canine was in immediate danger of death, she took the dog directly to a veterinarian.
Ms. Bishop was first hit with the charges because it was on her property. However, her son was eventually the one charged because it was his dog and his responsibility.