Elizabeth James from Laurens, South Carolina was indicted by a grand jury last week and now faces felony animal abuse charges for starving her ex-boyfriend’s dog to the point of death earlier this year in an act of revenge.
James was originally given a mere citation for failing to feed Champ, but 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo pushed for the highest possible charge due to the severity of the crime.
We applaud this move, and commend Stumbo for treating this case with the severity it deserves. A petition launched by LFT has received nearly 25,000 signatures so far from readers calling for justice in this stunningly cruel case.
If found guilty, James faces a minimum of 180 days in prison, with a maximum sentence of five years and a fine of up to $5,000.
In this horrific case of cruelty, James kept the dog chained up outside for at least six months, depriving him of food and water until he weighed only 50 pounds — half his normal weight.
When rescuers arrived, the dog — later named Champ — was crawling with maggots and every bone in his body was visible. He required blood transfusions and intensive medical care to survive.
People around the world are following Champ’s journey on his Facebook page, where photo and video updates show that he has bounced back miraculously following the ordeal and is thriving in a forever home.
“While the charges against Elizabeth James have been upgraded to felony charges, Champ is just happy & grateful for his new life. The horror & abuse of his past are now a distant memory,” stated a recent post on his page.
Image Credit: Facebook/Justice for Champ
THANK GOODNESS FOR CHAMP’S FANTASTIC RECOVERY!
Seriously revising my opinion of South Carolina…please make sure this woman is not allowed to own pets, nor allowed to work with children in any way.
There is something seriously wrong with this woman. I do hope she doesn’t have children!
I hope that she burns in a HELL so HORRIFIC that it makes her nightmares seem like a happy place!!!!!!!!!!!
SOUTH CAROLINA NEEDS TO CHANGE THEIR ANIMAL LAWS FOR STRICTER ONES TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT ANIMALS!!! I HEAR AND READ A LOT ABOUT S.C. WHERE SEEMS THERE IS A LOT OF ANIMAL ABUSE AND CRUELTY AND NOT BEING DONE ENOUGH TO THE MONSTERS PERPETRATING THIS HEINOUS CRIMES!!
Endless thanks to Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo who changed the charge to a felony.
thank you to the judge who finally does something to this putrid person maybe set a precedence
This girl IS INHUMANE and EVIL!!!!!
WE THE PEOPLE, WANT JUSTICE DONE FOR THIS INNOCENT ANGEL!!!!
She has to be a long time in jail.
SHE NEEDS A LONG TIME IN PRISON.
Rot in jail I hope you get beat everyday bitch
And where the hell was the ex-boyfriend all this time? Did he actually think his dog was in good hands with a psychotic woman for 6 months?
So glad Champ survived and is happy and healthy in his new home. However, we need to ensure another innocent animal does not suffer as Champ did. So glad this evil witch was charged with felony animal cruelty. Now I hope she receives the harshest punishment allowed, 5 years and jail and $5,000 fine. Neither will erase the pain this poor dog endured for months, but hopefully it will send a message that animal abuse and cruelty will not be tolerated. And hopefully when this POS is in jail, she will truly get the justice she deserves. Maybe her fellow inmates will show he the same treatment she gave Champ!!!!
This is the same woman who starved another dog to death a few years ago. 180 days is not enough. She’s a repeat offender and a sadist.
How did this evil monster get to have the dog in the first place?
How did this evil woman come to have the dog and sposed to look after it?
So happy this little fella is doing well. She needs severe punishment for what she put this poor dog through – he needs justice too like humans
I keep saying this and won’t stop until things change. Elizabeth James should be sent to jail for a year, made to pay $15,000, made to do community service for another year, looses all rights a person has, given a criminal record, made to wear an ankle bracelet for the rest of her life so authorities know her exact whereabouts at even given moment, banned from ever receiving help from the government and never aloud to own animals again! This will inevitably affect a person’s life in the most horrific way but the consequences need to be so dire that know one will ever want to commit any sort of animal cruelty in any way, shape or form! This will never happen because no one has the balls to do it! I’m sure all the animal abuses reading this will sigh relief so they can continue their cruel antics!
Thank you for your work. People who do these horrific acts are truly emotionally deranged. So happy to hear Champ is happy, healthy Thank you God,
I am so happy Champ is happy and well in his new home ! Thank you all for helping him.
So happy to see that Champ is doing so well. A dog’s resilience is truly amazing! As for Elizabeth James: I would lock her up and throw away the key.
Champ – you are a gorgeous dog! Thank you for your will to survive. Thank you, Lady Freethinker for your shedding light on cases such as this, so that we may come together in support. Thank you to his new forever-home guardians! God bless you all!
May the sad excuse for a human being who did this get her just desserts in the courts of America.
Elizabeth James
Should be locked up.
Her picture shown all over tv.
This is outrages. She is a monster.
Even so, the woman must be severely punished. She tried to kill him for God’s sake. It’s attempted murder!!!!!!
Thank you to everyone who helped save this poor innocent animal who suffered so greatly at the hands of a vile and evil monster.This monster must be severely punished and we the public demand justice for what she did to this poor dog. . I’m so glad that Champ is doing so well and I thank you for loving this big boy so much.
BEST WISHES CHAMPS FOR A WONDERFUL AND LONG LIFE…YOU SURE DESERVE IT BABY!!!!!
Maximum sentence-5 years in prison-felong record-NEVER to own an animal EVER-and that 5,000 fine along with community service! This dog was INNOCENT and should NEVER have been the victim of foolish, childish revenge!!!
So happy there are still good people left in this world and that Champ has found some giving him a completely new lease on life!!!! Be happy Champ!!! Thanks to all who made this a happy story…
Let the punishment fit the crime. Lock her up and starve her