NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)—A 21-year-old woman is accused of aggravated animal cruelty after a welfare check by deputies found her puppy starved to death in a small kennel.
On Saturday, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrested Neah Copeland, following an investigation launched by law enforcement originating from her mother requesting a welfare check.
According to deputies, Copeland’s mother made the welfare check request after expressing concern for her daughter following her saying her puppy had died two days earlier.
When deputies arrived at the apartment, they found the puppy curled up in a ball, deceased in a small kennel. According to the sheriff’s office, the puppy was adopted from a local shelter in August 2025, when it was two months old.
The animal was taken for a necropsy, where the report returned on Monday, determining that the dog had passed from starvation.
According to law enforcement, since August, the puppy had gained only 2 pounds. Copeland was asked to conduct a follow-up interview, during which she was arrested.
“She told deputies she lives a busy lifestyle and could not remember the last time the dog had been fed,” said Sheriff Carmine Marceno of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. “She also admitted the crate was too small but never got around to finding a bigger crate.”
Copeland told investigators she felt guilty for not taking better care of the puppy and wished she could go back and care for her better.
Copeland has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty. She is currently in the Lee County Jail. According to deputies, she had no prior criminal history.