Two East Texas women accused of causing the death of a puppy by leaving the animal in a locked cage that was in direct sunlight outside were arrested Tuesday afternoon.
Daisy Guity, 29, and Lisbeth Guity, 31, both of Palestine, are both charged with cruelty to non-livestock Animal after officers responded to a report of a puppy was locked in a cage in direct sunlight with no shade or water, police said.
According to the Palestine Police Department, police officers and animal control responded to a home in 200 block of W. Park. A caller reported that a puppy was locked in a cage in direct sunlight with no shade or water. Officers found the puppy dead.
The owners of the dog were identified as Daisy Guity and Lisbeth Guity. They said they put the puppy in the cage around 1 p.m. before leaving the home, police said. Officers reported the heat index in Palestine on Tuesday was over 100 degrees.
They were then taken to the Anderson County Jail. The puppy was taken to Texas A&M University for a necropsy.
“It is the responsibility of pet owners to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their pets,” Palestine Police Chief Mark Harcrow said. “We are experiencing extreme heat in this Texas summer. Anyone that is found to not be providing adequate shade and water to their pets will be arrested and prosecuted.”
Anderson County Criminal District Attorney Allyson Mitchell said crimes against animals that rely on humans to care for them will not be tolerated and her office looks forward to pursuing justice in this case.