Animal Cruelty: Woman Accused of Causing Puppy's Death After Cropping Tail

A Fairburn, Ga., woman was charged with eight counts of cruelty to animals from a November incident in Lawrenceville in which she cropped the tails of eight puppies, resulting in the death of one of them.

According to a Gwinnett Sheriff’s Office press release, Leslie Ayo, 38, was arrested Thursday, March 13, at her Fairburn residence and taken to the Gwinnett County jail.

In the arrest warrant, Avo is accused of “causing unjustifiable pain” and causing one death “by the act of cutting off tails and claws without proper procedure, training or license.”

According to a Gwinnett County Police incident report, Ayo was paid $150 to de-tail, de-claw and de-worm eight newborn Rottweiler puppies owned by Vanessa Speed, of Deer Oaks Drive in Lawrenceville. Ayo is listed as the proprietor of Heaven’s Gate Kennels, LLC.

Ayo reportedly arrived at the residence on Nov. 18, 2013, to perform the services in the kitchen.

Speed told police she believed the tails were cut too close to the base, causing excessive bleeding and pain for the puppies. She said the dogs appeared to be “struggling” after the procedures, according to the incident report. Speed said Ayo told her she always crops tails the same way.

One of the puppies was taken to a veterinarian, who contacted Gwinnett Animal Welfare and Enforcement to investigate. The puppy died later.

Ayo was transported to the Gwinnett County Jail without incident.