Three arrested after dog found dead, buried in their backyard

TAMPA — Three people were arrested Monday after authorities found their dog dead and partially buried in the backyard of their Tampa home.

An arrest affidavit states that the dog, Baby, was declining in health and denied medical care before 44-year-old Lisa Cooper Groover gave the dog an unspecified amount of pain pills without the advice of a veterinarian. Groover told investigators that Baby suffered until she died, the affidavit states.

Deputies said three other dogs were at the home, 4823 Grove Point Drive, kept in two separate rooms with urine and fecal matter and no food or water.

Lisa Groover, Herman Groover, 27, and Michael Allen Cooper, 18, were arrested at about 7 p.m.

Herman Groover and Cooper face charges of animal cruelty resulting in death and confinement of animals. Lisa Groover's charges include animal cruelty, animal confinement, being a felon in possession of a weapon and violation of probation from a previous theft charge.

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