POLK COUNTY, Fla. – [CAUTION: An image in this story may be considered disturbing. Reader discretion is advised.]
A woman was jailed after her dog was found with its muzzle duct-taped, according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
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In a release, deputies said the case began after a photo of the dog popped up on Facebook, which members of the sheriff’s office soon came across.
Judd discussed the post in a video on Tuesday, which reads as follows:
“SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME. I JUST FOUND THIS SWEET BABY WITH DUCT TAPE AND I’M TRYING TO GET IT OFF BUT I’M SCARED. I’M GONNA HURT HIS WHISKERS. IT’S 8 AM. I LIVE IN AUBURNDALE. PLEASE HELP ME.”
Upon learning of the post, investigators said they immediately began trying to find the dog and the people involved.
“After locating the woman who posted the photo, they learned that she found the dog under a wheelchair ramp, and it appeared to be hyperventilating,” the release reads. “The woman said she and her son cut the tape off, and the dog began breathing freely.”
Per the sheriff’s office, a detective began canvassing the neighborhood, eventually finding the dog’s owner along Chipman Lane in Auburndale.
While no one answered the door, the detective heard a voice from the backyard, which is where he came across 57-year-old Tammy Roosa, sitting down completely naked with tarps up.
According to investigators, Roosa admitted that the dog was hers and that she’d taped its muzzle shut the night before because he had “tried to bit her.”
“According to the detective, Roosa showed no sign of remorse and refused to accept that what she did was wrong,” the release continues. “She surrendered the dog to the PCSO.”
The dog — nicknamed “Cooper” — reportedly suffered scarring from the duct tape, as well as malnourishment and marks on his neck that indicated he’d been tied up for a long period of time.
That said, Roosa physically resisted as she was arrested, though she was ultimately taken into custody, deputies noted.
She faces charges of animal cruelty, resisting without violence, operating an unpermitted landfill, three counts of keeping nuisance injurious to health, and 15 counts of animal neglect.
Deputies added that plenty of garbage, roaches and a “strong odor” of feces and urine were discovered inside Roosa’s camper. They also found seven cats, three fish, two lovebirds, two finches and a duck, the release shows.
The sheriff’s office later revealed that Cooper has been “improving quickly,” though it will “be a while” before he and the other animals are available for adoption.
“Cooper the dog had been treated horribly, but I am happy to report that some good things have come out of this ordeal,” Sheriff Judd stated. “Cooper is getting wonderful treatment and care by the great staff at Animal Control, and all of his little animal friends have been freed from their horrible living conditions, as well. All of the animals are expected to fully recover.”