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Moxy The Dog Surrendered To City Of Centerton; Charges To Be Dropped Against Owner

CENTERTON (KFSM) – The owner of the injured Centerton dog Moxy, also known as Tinkerbelle, will surrender the aging rat terrier to the city and will have the ch...
Moxy.jpg

CENTERTON (KFSM) – The owner of the injured Centerton dog Moxy, also known as Tinkerbelle, will surrender the aging rat terrier to the city and will have the charges against him dropped, officials said on Tuesday (Sept. 9).

Doug Crawford of Centerton was charged this summer with violating three city ordinances — cruelty to animals, having a dog at large and having no tag for the dog — but those charges will be dropped on the condition that he surrender the dog to the city, officials said.

Meanwhile, the city will leave the dog in the care of a foster family living in Centerton. That family, whose identity is not being released, has been caring for the dog since her release from a Centerton animal shelter.  She was receiving care at the shelter after being found with scars and wandering the streets this summer. Moxy’s recovery became news when a neighbor said she found the dog with fireworks taped to her.

Crawford was set to appeared in Centerton District Court in October but struck the deal with prosecutors on Sept. 9 allowing the dog to live in a new home, officials said. He had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Crawford’s charges are being diverted for a year, meaning they will be dropped next summer if he commits no similar acts of animal cruelty, said Bryan Vernetti, city prosecutor.

Officials said the dog is diabetic and had not been receiving adequate veterinarian care but added the owners were not intentionally abusing her. Her wounds were old and not consistent with firework injuries, officials said.

Moxy’s supporters this summer raised $3,700 on an online fund-raising site for the dog. That money will go toward the dog’s care, officials said.

The Centerton animal shelter’s caretaker, D.J. Ritchie, said the dog was found in July with open wounds and no collar in the Appleridge neighborhood of Centerton.

The dog  is gaining weight and is recovering from the injuries, officials said.

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