CLEARWATER — A 43-year-old woman was arrested Thursday after police said she abandoned her dog outside a Clearwater business during cold weather, according to a Pinellas County arrest affidavit.
Records state that at about 5:50 p.m. on January 29, 2026, Bonnie Lee Herbert went to a business located at 700 Eldridge Street with her dog, a 4-year-old Shiba Inu. Investigators say Herbert tied the dog to a chair outside the business and left it unattended in a public place.
According to the affidavit, the dog was left for approximately four hours without food or water while temperatures were about 54 degrees, with a forecast low of 46 degrees later that evening.
A note left with the dog asked someone to take care of the animal and included information that the dog was spayed and microchipped.
Police reported that Herbert did not contact restaurant staff or ask permission before leaving the dog. Staff members later called 911 when Herbert returned to the location.
An officer made contact with Herbert, who admitted before and after being advised of her rights that she abandoned the dog because she was scared due to animal care issues, according to the report.
The affidavit states that without intervention by staff and police, the dog was likely to suffer from neglect. The animal was transported to a local veterinarian for treatment and care.
Herbert was arrested on Jan. 29, 2026, and charged with abandonment of animals, a first-degree misdemeanor under Florida law.