Amber leaves hospital for her new home

Just one week after her former owner was taken to jail and charged with animal cruelty; Amber is leaving the veterinary hospital and finishes her recovery in a new home with her new family, the Sorrells.

On January 14, Deputy Dan Sorrells responded to a call, accompanied by St Johns County Animal Control officers, reporting that a neighbor witnessed a man attacking his dog the night before — stabbing the dog with a knife and slashing her throat before dragging the animal into the woods to die.

It took officers about 45 minutes to locate the dog in a grassy area near the home of 28-year old Randal B Hart at 8450 CR-13 North in St Johns County. The dog was in obvious distress, but still alive. The Animal Control Officer transported the dog to Atlantic Veterinarian Hospital for emergency surgery.

When Deputy Sorrells asked Hart why he stabbed his dog, Hart responded that the dog bit a kitten and needed to be “put down”. Following up on Hart’s statement, Sorrells was able to locate the kitten — it was playing with another dog on the property. No injuries to the kitten were observed.

Hart remains in custody as of this morning, charged with a third-degree felony, in lieu of $5000.00 bond. His court date has not yet been set.

In the meantime, Amber’s future safety is assured — Deputy Sorrells has paid the veterinarian’s bill out of his own pocket and his family has adopted Amber.