Florida woman leaves teen, 7 dogs home alone to go on Vegas vacation: police
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A Florida woman is behind bars after she left her teenager and seven dogs in “vile living conditions” to go on a two-week-long Las Vegas vacation, according to police.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jessica Copeland, 37, on Tuesday on charges of child and animal neglect following calls from family members concerned about the teen and the dogs.

The first call came on Monday when an out-of-state family member called Putnam County deputies to ask for a welfare check on a teenager in Palatka, Florida, the agency said. 

When deputies went to the home, an adult was outside and told them he was “cleaning” before Copeland returned home. The teen then came outside and said “there were no issues and everything was fine,” according to the sheriff’s office, so the deputies left.

When deputies were at the home on Tuesday morning assisting animal control with removing the dogs from the home, Copeland returned to the residence and was quickly arrested.

emaciated dog Florida home

Law enforcement removed seven dogs from the home belonging to Copeland. (Putnam County Sheriff’s Office)

Bodycam footage released by the agency showed no resistance from Copeland when they informed her that her house was in a “deplorable” condition and that she had animals on the brink of being starved to death. She was quickly put in handcuffs and taken into custody.

“She is now on extended vacation at the Putnam County Jail,” the sheriff’s office said. 

Her charges include one count of child neglect, three counts of felony animal neglect and four counts of misdemeanor animal neglect, and her bond is set at $36,000.

“Let me be clear, our community will not tolerate this level of selfish disregard for human and animal life. She now has time for reflection,” DeLoach said.

The dogs were voluntarily surrendered to the county and will be up for adoption once they are rehabilitated. 

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