QC Couple Charged With Animal Neglect After Their Dog Dies

A Bettendorf couple has been charged with animal neglect following the death of their pit bull.

WQAD reports Dennis Terrell Stewart was arrested by the Bettendorf police and a warrant has been served for his wife, Vanessa Bruyntjens. Police allege the two did not provide adequate care to their pitbull, King, who suffered from a twisted stomach.

Stewart took the sick animal to King's Harvest Shelter, claiming that he had found the dog in Scott County Park. The story was later proven to be untrue.

By the time Stewart brought King into the shelter, the dog was lethargic, had many cuts and bruises, and was severely underweight. Despite emergency care, he passed away shortly after from internal bleeding.

The Quad-City Times reports there was evidence that King had been malnourished and neglected while in the care of Stewart and his wife.

A necropsy found bacteria around the dog’s lungs and heart, which caused pneumonia and that the sores indicted it possibly had been lying in fecal matter and urine, common occurrences in poor living conditions.

When police searched the home they went to the garage, which is under the main floor of the home and is part of the basement. The floor was covered with excrement mixed with dry dog food. Stewart said he would put the dogs in the garage when no one was home, and that he cleans the garage once a year.

Stewart appeared in court over the weekend, while Bruyntjens has a court date set for February 20. They are both facing misdemeanor charges.

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