MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Pet owners who don't protect their pets from rabies could end up behind bars. Murfreesboro police released video of an arrest that some call shocking.
"It was so crazy. It was surreal almost," said Cynthia Gambrell.
She's talking about a moment caught on police video and she still can't believe what happened after a minor fender bender.
"It's way over the top to have someone arrested. Go to court with a citation, but don't push it that far," said Gambrell referring to her arrest.
She was led away in handcuffs even though she wasn't to blame for the minor accident. Murfreesboro police did find Gambrell and her best friend Lorenzo Espy had warrants related to their pet dogs.
"In this instance there was a warrant for failure to vaccinate," said Officer Amy Norville with the Murfreesboro Police Dept.
You heard right,Gambrell and Espy were accused of failure to vaccinate for rabies.
More than 25 rabies cases were reported in Rutherford county since last year. Now, Pet Adoption and Welfare Services or PAWS is taking out warrants on owners who don't comply. It's standard for police to check for outstanding warrants and if they find one they must act.
"If there's an outstanding warrant for an arrest then they take you into custody and take you to jail," said Norville.
Gambrell and Espy both posted bond, but not before getting to know some of the other inmates -- typically not the most pleasant of experiences.
"I was in there with some girl so doped up she couldn't hold her head up. And just as I leave the cell I hear them screaming and fighting in there. I got out just in time," said Gambrell.
The staff at PAWS considers criminal warrants the last resort. They'll give you three chances to get the vaccines and if you choose to ignore the law then police may come get you when you last expect it.
Gambrell says she's innocent and will fight the charges.
PAWS considers this a public health issue and hopes that taking out criminal warrants gets the attention of pet owners.
It is a $1,000 bond just to get out after such an arrest. A rabies shot at most clinics will cost only $15.
