- Florida, USA -
On April 13, in a Facebook post, the Beach Police Department (BBPD) announced that 19-year-old ELIZABETH REBECCA EBBEN (pictured below), was arrested and charged with felony cruelty to animals and unlawful confinement of animals/animal abandonment.
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Original Story:
On January 11, EBBEN’s roommate, Rickardo Smith, discovered a severely neglected dog in the girl’s bedroom and alerted Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control.
ACO Perez responded to an apartment on 1237 Piazza Antinori in Boynton Beach.
Boynton Beach Police Officer Andrews also responded to the scene.
Rickardo Smith told Perez that he hadn’t seen his roommate for three weeks.
Perez found a 9-month-old Pitbull named Buddy confined in his own waste.
The bedroom was in complete disarray laden with numerous piles of dog feces and reeked of ammonia.
Buddy was lying on top of the bed; his ribs, vertebrae, and pelvic bones were visibly prominent.
There was no sign of food or water.
ACO Perez took pictures of the dog and his living environment.
Rickardo Smith identified Buddy’s guardian as ELIZABETH REBECCA EBBEN and gave Perez her phone number.
He tried to make contact with her, but she was unavailable.
Due to the severity of Buddy’s physical health, the deplorable conditions in which he was confined, and the fact that EBBEN’s whereabouts were unknown, Perez took the pup into his possession under exigent circumstances.
The poor furbaby was immediately transferred to Animal Care and Control and provided with food and water.
Buddy was then evaluated and treated by staff veterinarian Dr. Virginia Sayre, DVM.
Perez’s report and pictures were turned over to Boynton Beach Police Department Animal Cruelty Investigator Liz Roehrich, for follow-up.
Every time Ms. Roehrich attempted to make contact with EBBEN, she failed to get a response.
On January 15, EBBEN arrived at the police station and readily agreed to provide a sworn statement as to her involvement in this case.
She willingly relinquished all ownership rights to the dog and signed an animal history card.
Eventually, Buddy was transferred to Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League, and on February 3, he was adopted.
ELIZABETH REBECCA EBBEN is in the Palm Beach County Jail.
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