Severely Emaciated Great Dane With Bumblefoot Recovering After Florida Official Arrested For Animal Cruelty

A great Dane named Stella is recovering well, putting on eight pounds in just a few days, after her owner was arrested and charged with animal cruelty this week, authorities in Florida said.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said they were contacted by the Auburndale Police Department about a report of a starving dog in poor condition, and a detective from PCSO’s Animal Cruelty Investigations unit responded to the residence on Tuesday.

The detective found two dogs at the residence. Stella was found emaciated with multiple abrasions and scabs, covered with fleas, and suffering from severe pododermatitis, also known as bumblefoot, on all four paws, and appeared to be in severe pain, the sheriff’s office said. Veterinary records indicated she had not received any care since 2020. Bella, an 18- to 20-year-old terrier mix, was found with severe flea dermatitis and hair loss on her back.

Veterinarian Kerry Jackson examined the dogs, and found that Stella, who is approximately 8 years old, weighed just 60.8 pounds, about half a healthy weight for her breed and age. Her Body Condition Score (BCS) was just 1 out of 9. Bella weighed 10.6 pounds and had a BCS of 2 out of 9.

Their owner, 37-year-old Bradford Thomas, the Public Utilities Director for the City of Auburndale, was arrested Tuesday and booked into the Polk County Jail on charges of misdemeanor animal cruelty and felony aggravated animal cruelty.

Both dogs were voluntarily surrendered to the Polk County Sheriffs Office and taken to the agency’s Animal Control facility for treatment.

“The dogs and their former owner will be getting the attention they need and deserve. For Bradford Thomas, this behavior is absolutely unacceptable. It is incomprehensible that someone in his capacity as a senior manager in a reputable and responsible local government would do something like this — starving and causing such pain for an innocent animal,” said Sheriff Grady Judd. “We will do everything we can to hold him criminally responsible. We will also do everything we can to get these dogs healthy and thriving. They are off to a good start — we pray its not too late and they respond to medical treatment, nourishment, and love.” 

In an update Thursday, the sheriff’s office shared a video of Stella receiving veterinary care after her rescue, and Detective Jacob Durrance revealed that Thomas allegedly tried to explain away her low weight by claiming she is a “picky eater.”

Durrance said that when he responded to the scene, Stella’s feet were “extremely swollen” and “you could tell when she walked how tender her feet were, they were bleeding, she was just in a lot of pain and suffering.”

Since her rescue, Stella has been “eating like a champ” and had gained eight pounds as of Thursday, proving she’s not a picky eater at all.

“You can just tell she loves to be loved on,” Durrance said as she nuzzled into his pets.

“Our wonderful, caring staff at Polk County Animal Control has her on the road to recovery,” the sheriff’s office said. “Thank you Detective Jacob Durrance with the Animal Cruelty Investigative Unit, and Dr. Kerry Jackson and the amazing, loving staff at Polk County Animal Control!”