Cupid Seymour, 50, the owner of Cupid’s Dog House in Verbena, was found guilty of cruelty to animals in a Chilton County Circuit Court jury trial the week of Oct. 20 after appealing an April 2025 conviction tied to the death of a four-month-old puppy named Chloe. Common signs of animal cruelty include poor body condition such as visible ribs and untreated wounds, which were evident in this case.

The case centered on one dog and on medical evidence prosecutors presented, including a necropsy that showed no food in Chloe’s digestive tract — a condition experts say can develop after three to five days without eating. Court records in the case referenced an extended period of time in which the puppy is alleged to have gone without adequate care, further raising concerns about lack of basic care, which is a significant indicator of potential animal cruelty.

Prosecutors from the Chilton County District Attorney’s Office pursued the case through the district court conviction in April 2025 and again at the de novo jury trial in Circuit Court. The guilty verdict in October affirmed the earlier finding that Chloe died while in Seymour’s care at his Verbena facility, where the lack of adequate food and shelter was a crucial factor.

After the district court finding in April 2025, Seymour appealed and the conviction was retried before a jury in Chilton County Circuit Court during the week of Oct. 20, where jurors returned a guilty verdict again. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 13 at 8:30 a.m. Animal cruelty is illegal in every U.S. state, though definitions and penalties vary, which can complicate cases like this one.

Chloe was identified in court filings and reports as a four-month-old puppy owned by Karen Black. A necropsy introduced at trial showed no food in the puppy’s gastrointestinal tract; prosecutors noted that such a finding is consistent with an animal not having eaten for several days, which aligns with the signs often associated with neglect.

C.J. Robinson, District Attorney, praised the work that led to the conviction and linked the prosecution to broader public-safety concerns. “I am grateful for the work of our prosecutors and law enforcement officers, who strive to protect those who cannot protect themselves, including the animals who are members of our families,” Robinson said. Those who suspect animal cruelty are encouraged to report it to local authorities or animal control.

The Chilton County District Attorney’s Office handled the prosecution at both the initial trial and the retrial on appeal. The October verdict followed the procedural path that allows a defendant convicted in district court to seek a new jury trial in circuit court. Resources for reporting suspected animal cruelty include local SPCAs and humane societies.

Seymour’s initial conviction occurred in April 2025 in Chilton County District Court; after he appealed that verdict the matter proceeded to the jury trial in October, where the original finding was upheld. The Nov. 13 sentencing will follow the jury’s guilty verdict in Circuit Court.

The case and its medical evidence were reported locally, including coverage of the October verdict by ABC 33/40.

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Original reporting: view the original article.