Woman wanted for animal cruelty after dog found ‘hours from death’

UPDATE (8/3/25): Woman in custody following animal cruelty case

UPDATE: Officials share update on dog’s condition after severe case of animal cruelty

NOTE: In a social media post made Tuesday, the individual involved denied responsibility for the incident described below, stating that it is not her dog and that she was not aware the dog was in the garage.

JACKSON, Tenn. — Authorities are seeking a woman wanted for aggravated animal cruelty.

📸: Ashonti Shardai Kidd / Courtesy: Crime Stoppers

According to Crime Stoppers, on Wednesday, July 23, a Jackson Animal Control Officer was dispatched to a residence, where an abandoned dog was found in a hot garage “starving and near death.”

📸: Courtesy: Crime Stoppers

The Jackson Animal Care Center shared a post to social media stating in part: “Locked in a stifling garage with no food, no water, and no way out, she was lying in her own waste, too weak to stand. The temperature inside had climbed past 100 degrees. She was hours from death via starvation and dehydration.”

Now, authorities are turning to the public to help locate Ashonti Shardai Kidd.

Anyone with information that could assist is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (731) 424-8477 or use their mobile P3 app.

Crime Stoppers reminds that information always remains anonymous and a cash reward is paid if information leads to an arrest.

Click here to learn more about animal cruelty laws in Tennessee.

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