Beaten dog expected to fully recover

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - A Virginia Beach woman has been charged with animal cruelty after police received a call saying she had repeatedly stabbed and beaten her dog.

Grazia Moyers with the Virginia Beach Police Department says the call came in Aug. 17 from the 5800 block of Roxbury Place.

Moyers says Heather Tabron, 28, stabbed and beat her 12-year-old mixed breed dog named "Angel."

In a picture taken by animal control after the abuse, Angel appears to be in pretty good shape. But x-rays show the painful fracture in her front left leg.

"It's a large bone and so it takes a lot of force to break the bone," said Dr. Melissa McKendry, who treated Angel at the Virginia Beach Animal Care and Adoption Center.

Dr. McKendry believes Angel was thrown across a room and landed on that leg. She says the dog was also stabbed in the same leg and in the chest. But the weapon used was small, so the internal bleeding is under control.

"She was lucky because it didn't hit anything major in the chest," said Dr. McKendry. "Obviously it didn't hit the heart."

But the story pulled at the heart strings of viewers, who can't imagine what would make someone do such a thing. WAVY.com went back to the scene to speak to Tabron, but instead found an eviction notice in her door.

Maintenance crews tell us they delivered the eviction notice Tuesday. They say there is no blood or evidence of a struggle inside the apartment.

Police say one of Tabron's relatives called police to stop the abuse. A man identified himself as Tabron's brother on our Facebook page .

Facebook user Ian Coleman writes: " I did take responsibility and did handle the situation I sadly, wasn't fast enough.please understand what a psychotic break is... there aren't visible warning signs, it just happened and theit is being handled."

In a separate post, Coleman wrote: " No one is excusing her actions and all of our thoughts and prayers are with Angel at this moment. Having said that, MY SISTER IS NOT AN EVIL PERSON! You all would be fortunate to know a woman of half her caliber. Everyone has a breaking point, and it is tragic that this has happened to our family and Angel."

As for Angel, she is expected to make a full recovery. Doctors say, judging from the dog's demeanor, the abuse appears to be an isolated incident.

"I think she'll do fine," said Dr. McKendry. "I think we'll place her in a good home. There's a lot of people who care."

The Friends of Virginia Beach Animal Care and Adoption Center is a nonprofit group that is paying for the cost of Angel's treatment.

Those wishing to help Angel can donate online here.

Angel will most likely be put up for adoption after she heals and court proceedings are finalized.

Tabron has been charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty and was released on a summons. Moyers says she was admitted to a local hospital for an evaluation. Maintenance crews at her apartment complex say she was evicted Tuesday for failing to pay rent.