Fort Worth Man Arrested for Alleged Pet Theft and Cruelty

Fort Worth Man Arrested for Alleged Pet Theft and CrueltyFort Worth Man Arrested for Alleged Pet Theft and Cruelty Fort Worth, TX – A man from Fort Worth has been arrested and charged with pet theft and animal cruelty after allegedly stealing and mistreating a dog. According to the Fort Worth Animal Care & Control, the incident occurred on February 12th, 2023. The victim, a woman, reported that her two-year-old dog, a golden retriever mix named Buddy, had been stolen from her backyard. An investigation by Animal Care & Control revealed that 35-year-old Michael Jones had allegedly taken the dog and sold it to another individual. Jones was located and arrested on February 15th. During the arrest, officers discovered that Buddy had been neglected and abused. The dog was malnourished, had injuries to its body, and was terrified of Jones. Jones has been charged with theft of property and cruelty to non-livestock animals, both felony offenses. He is being held on $10,000 bond. “Buddy is now safe with his family,” said Fort Worth Animal Care & Control Director Lee Harpool. “We are committed to bringing justice for animals who have been stolen and mistreated.” The Fort Worth Police Department encourages anyone with information about animal cruelty or pet theft to contact them or Animal Care & Control.