Overview
- Donnell Smith was arrested Monday after deputies responding to a tip about a foul odor discovered the decomposing remains of three dogs inside the travel trailer he shared with Jodi Cowan.
- Authorities say the animals had been left without food, water or air conditioning and believe extreme heat, starvation and dehydration caused their deaths, though a necropsy has been ordered to confirm causes.
- Smith faces three counts of felony animal cruelty and three counts of unlawful disposal of a dead animal and is expected to appear in court on those charges.
- The arrests follow a separate case in which Cowan was mauled to death by two neighbor pit bulls on May 19 and the dogs’ owner, Linda Cutler, was arrested on manslaughter charges after her dogs were seized.
- Sheriff Wayne Ivey called the situation severe neglect and said the cases highlight prior complaints and citations about the attacking dogs, signaling possible scrutiny of enforcement and animal-control practices as investigations continue.