Owner of cats who died in fire charged

LITTLE ROCK, AR – Cruelty to animal charges have been filed against a Garland County man whose house burned down Monday. Animal Control found 28 dead cats and 11 injured inside the home.

A warrant was issued for David Smith on Wednesday. He turned himself in and was released on $1,000 bond. The Garland County Sheriff’s Department says Smith is one of their employees in the county jail.

According to the report, Smith was notified 3 days before the fire by Animal Control that he had to get his house cleaned up. Smith said he would comply.

The sheriff’s department says that foul play is not suspected in the cause of the fire.

In addition to the 39 misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals, Smith also charged with violating the Arkansas rabies act.