A woman pleaded guilty Monday to starving two dogs nearly to death in 2016, authorities said.
Ashley Marie Davis, 29, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and a count of making false statements, Cobb County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Kim Isaza told AJC.com. Davis had no prior record, so she was granted first-offender status.
As a result, Davis was given a five-year suspended sentence and 10 years of probation, Isaza said. That means she would serve five years in prison if she violates any terms of her probation over the next 10 years. If she had gone to trial, she faced 15 years behind bars.
In December 2016, Davis left the two dogs, Lucky and Simpson, locked inside a Smyrna home, AJC.com previously reported.
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Simpson, a blind American bulldog mix, and Lucky, a deaf pit bull mix, were found by pet rescue advocate Justine Stinnett, who posted pictures of them on Instagram. Stinnett had previously left them with Davis as foster pets.
Davis was accused of moving out of the house, intentionally leaving the dogs behind. Doctors said at the time that Lucky likely lost 20 pounds within two weeks.
Davis, who lived in Tennessee, turned herself in to Cobb authorities in April 2018.
Both dogs have made a full recovery, Stinnett said in a Facebook post following Davis’ guilty plea.
“Though I personally wish she was in prison, I am very glad that she was given 10 years probation with the promise of prison should she break the law,” she said in the post. “... So even though her punishment isn’t what I was hoping for, I am happy this case is closed and we have some closure.”
In addition to Davis’ probation, she will have to complete 150 hours of community service and cannot possess drugs, alcohol or any animals, according to her sentencing.
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