Woman 'left 3 dogs to die in hot car & dumped them in alligator-infested canal'

16 August 2023 , 21:35

662     0

Tammy Garceau is accused of animal cruelty

A cruel woman is accused of leaving three dogs to die in a hot car before dumping them in an alligator-infested canal.

Police say they were called to the home of 54-year-old Tammy Garceau, who claimed that the three dogs she was watching for a friend were missing. However, Tammy's neighbour, Cleo Hernandez, who lives across the street from her, allegedly dismantled her story completely. He told deputies that he had seen the dogs in her car for an extended amount of time — furthermore, it was a very hot, 92-degree day.

The Florida woman was arrested for animal cruelty after she left three dogs in her hot car to die before disposing of the carcasses in a canal where they were probably eaten by alligators.

Her neighbour continued observing the car and eventually witnessed Tammy remove the dogs and allegedly hose them down in an attempt to cool them off. He had recorded the incident, which was taken in for evidence by the deputies. When confronted by the deputies, Tammy admitted to leaving the dogs in her car on purpose because she didn't want to bring them into her house.

Given the temperature that day, the deputies noted that the temperature inside the car was much hotter despite whether the air conditioning was on. (CEN)

Tammy was handcuffed and told to lead police to the dead bodies. She took the deputies to two separate locations to search for the carcasses. (CEN)

Cleo told deputies: “The initial story was that she was pet sitting, and she left the dogs in the car to go in her house to retrieve something and came out, and the dogs were missing. She said somebody stole them.”

Man in 30s dies after being stabbed in park sparking police probe

Given the temperature that day, the deputies noted that the temperature inside the car was much hotter despite whether the air conditioning was on. The situation came as Florida was experiencing brutal heat with over 100 farenheit recorded.

Tammy was handcuffed and told to lead police to the dead bodies. She took the deputies to two separate locations to search for the carcasses. One was a wooded area where a body was found in the bushes and the other was in a canal. While the deputies could see where a dog "may" have been on the shore, they noted that an alligator likely ate them.

While the deputies could see where a dog "may" have been on the shore, they noted that an alligator likely ate them. (CEN)

Records show that Tammy was arrested and charged with three counts each of animal cruelty, unlawful abandonment/containment of an animal and unlawful disposal of an animal. She was released from jail on Sunday after posting a $9,000 bond.

While her actions were deemed criminal by law enforcement, Cleo didn't have any harsh words for her neighbour, who she says needs help, according to readinfos.com

"I don’t think she’s a bad person . I think she has addiction issues and she just needs somebody to get here on the right path and hopefully this is a wake-up call to her.”

Mataeo Smith