Alachua man charged with aggravated animal cruelty for failing to treat dog with gaping wound

Staff report

ALACHUA, Fla. – Freddie Kelly, 57, has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty after Animal Control officers found his dog with a “large, gaping wound” in its neck, tethered with a heavy metal chain and collar.

On June 25, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to the 14100 block of NW 167th Place after Animal Control officers requested assistance with a dog in distress. The deputy reported that the dog, named Big Boy, was a Labrador Retriever mix that was tethered to a wire line with a heavy metal chain (later found to be over 10 pounds) and collar. The deputy reported a “noticeable odor of decay” when approaching the dog.

The deputy reported that Big Boy had a “large, gaping wound” on his neck and was thin, with prominent bones.

Officers were unable to confidently identify the owner of the dog at that time, so Big Boy was seized and transported to Alachua County Animal Resources for medical treatment.

The shelter’s veterinarian described the injury as “a large ruptured mass with foul odor, maggots present in the tissue on the right side of the neck.” The mass was the size of a softball and was surgically removed. Big Boy also reportedly had a severe infestation of fleas.

The deputy noted that Kelly had been issued a written warning in 2021 for tethering a dog to a heavy chain; the dog’s description matched Big Boy.

Kelly reportedly surrendered the dog to the County, and he said he’d had Big Boy since he was a puppy and had been feeding him.

Post Miranda, Kelly reportedly admitted that Big Boy had been tethered on a heavy chain, and he said he had tried to treat the wound himself by opening the area on the neck and applying hydrogen peroxide

Due to declining health, Big Boy was humanely euthanized on July 1.

Kelly has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty. He has no criminal history, and he was released on $5,000 bail; Judge Mitchell Bishop ordered him to have no contact with animals.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.