Ester Arlene Baker

Chained dog dies from neglect

Dallas, TX  Dallas County

April 5, 2005

A trial date of February 16^th has been set in the case of Sweet Charity, a 5-month-old Pit Bull puppy found chained and near death in the backyard of a vacant North Dallas duplex in April 2005.

The dog was discovered on April 5, 2005, by two women looking at rental properties. They took the puppy to Operation Kindness, and shelter staff immediately transferred her to a Carrollton veterinary clinic for treatment. The dog, which was named Sweet Charity by Operation Kindness staff, was suffering from massive infection caused by severe mange, an embedded collar, dehydration and malnutrition. Due to the extent and severity of her wounds and obvious pain, a decision was made to euthanize the puppy.

Following an investigation by Dallas Animal Services, Ester Arlene Baker was arrested and charged with animal cruelty. Baker was indicted by the Dallas County Grand Jury in November 2005. Baker lived at the duplex at 15842 El Estado near Coit and Arapaho in Dallas and had moved several weeks prior to the discovery of the abandoned dog.

Baker, age 37, is scheduled to have a bench trial without a jury on February 16^th, before Judge Lennox Bower in County Criminal Court No. 2 in the Frank Crowley Courts Building, 133 N. Industrial Blvd. in Dallas. The case number is MA050757OB.

        (Photo's courtesy of Operation Kindness)

Update 3/29/07:

Charges against Baker have been dismissed due to lack of evidence tying the neglect and abandonment of Sweet Charity to Baker.

Reference:

Star Community News

Dallas County District Attorney's Office

Operation Kindness