Pinellas County Court Rules in Favor of SPCA Tampa Bay

Decision is consistent with the organization’s position from the outset

LARGO, Fla. (July 29, 2026) – Today, the Pinellas County Court ruled in favor of SPCA Tampa Bay in the case related to Waddles. The Court’s decision is consistent with SPCA Tampa Bay’s position from the outset: Waddles received appropriate, professional and compassionate treatment while at the organization.

Waddles was surrendered to SPCA Tampa Bay last summer with multiple medical issues. He was transferred within two weeks to a specialized pig rescue equipped to provide his long-term needs. Allegations regarding his treatment followed that transfer.

Throughout this process, SPCA Tampa Bay remained confident in the actions of its veterinary and animal welfare teams. The organization chose to let the judicial process run its course rather than litigate these issues in the court of public opinion.

“Our compassionate staff has always put the wellbeing of animals first,” said Martha Boden, president and CEO of SPCA Tampa Bay. “For nearly a year, this group of dedicated veterinary and animal welfare professionals had their integrity questioned publicly. Throughout it all, our amazing team never stopped providing thoughtful, appropriate care to every animal entrusted to us. Today’s ruling is an important affirmation of the professionalism, commitment and skill of the team members who devote their lives to making a meaningful, positive difference for animals and the people who love them.”

Public allegations carry real consequences.

They affect organizations, dedicated professionals and the public’s confidence in the lifesaving work our community depends on. While today’s ruling cannot erase the challenges of the past year, it allows SPCA Tampa Bay to move forward with the confidence that comes from remaining true to its mission and values.

SPCA Tampa Bay thanks its employees, volunteers, donors and community partners who stood with the organization throughout this process. Their trust and support never wavered, allowing the team to remain focused where it has always belonged: caring for animals in need.

Every day, SPCA Tampa Bay continues its work of finding new families for homeless pets, providing lifesaving medical care, and serving the people and animals of our community. That commitment has never changed, and it never will.

FAQ

What happened with the Waddles case?

On July 29, 2026, following a bench trial, a Pinellas County Court judge found SPCA Tampa Bay not guilty of the civil animal cruelty citation related to the care of Waddles.

The verdict is consistent with what SPCA Tampa Bay maintained from the beginning: The allegations were unfounded and Waddles received appropriate, professional and compassionate care from our animal care team.

What did the judge rule?

After hearing hours of testimony and reviewing the evidence, the judge found SPCA Tampa Bay not guilty.

“I am finding that the SPCA is not guilty,” the judge said, adding that there was “absolutely no evidence” to support the citation. The judge found no evidence that SPCA Tampa Bay denied Waddles access to shelter and noted that the evidence showed he was able to walk and access the livestock area.

The judge also questioned why SPCA Tampa Bay faced consequences after agreeing to help an animal whose family had difficulty finding placement, remarking, “No good deed goes unpunished.”

The court recognized that SPCA Tampa Bay stepped forward to help Waddles when few other options were available to his family.

Why was SPCA Tampa Bay cited if the court found us not guilty?

Pinellas County Animal Services issued a civil animal cruelty citation following its investigation. SPCA Tampa Bay exercised its legal right to challenge that citation in court.

After hearing testimony from both sides and reviewing the evidence, the judge found SPCA Tampa Bay not guilty and concluded there was “absolutely no evidence” to support the citation.

Who is Waddles?

Waddles is a pig who was surrendered to SPCA Tampa Bay in July 2025 after his owners could no longer care for him. He briefly stayed with us before being transferred to a specialized pig rescue equipped to support his long-term care. After that transfer, allegations were made about the care Waddles received while he was with us.

Why couldn’t SPCA Tampa Bay tell the public what was happening with the case?

Because this was an active legal matter, SPCA Tampa Bay was limited in what it could say publicly. Unfortunately, we could not respond to every online claim, correct misinformation and false claims as they were being spread or fully explain the situation while the case was pending.

Throughout this process, we chose to respect the judicial system rather than litigate the case on social media. We remained confident that the facts would prevail, and we allowed the legal process to reach its conclusion. 

Now that the trial is over, we can more fully defend our team and address the allegations that called their professionalism, judgment and compassion into question.

Was Waddles abused at SPCA Tampa Bay?

No. After hearing all of the evidence presented during the bench trial, the court found SPCA Tampa Bay not guilty of the animal cruelty citation and concluded there was not sufficient evidence to support the allegations.

The judge specifically found no evidence that SPCA Tampa Bay denied Waddles access to shelter. The evidence also showed that Waddles was able to walk and access the livestock area during his stay.

SPCA Tampa Bay has stood behind its animal care team throughout this process. They acted appropriately, professionally and compassionately. They never deserved to have their work, judgment or integrity called into question.

What about Waddles’ skin condition?

When Waddles arrived at SPCA Tampa Bay, he had several pre-existing medical concerns, including a skin condition that required treatment and monitoring. During the trial, both sides presented evidence regarding his condition. After considering all of the testimony and evidence, the court found SPCA Tampa Bay not guilty and concluded there was not sufficient evidence to support the animal cruelty citation. 

What care did Waddles receive at SPCA Tampa Bay?

When Waddles arrived at SPCA Tampa Bay’s shelter on July 10, 2025, staff confirmed several pre-existing health concerns that his previous owner shared before intake. The family reached out to us as one of the only shelters in Pinellas County that could care for him at the time.

When he arrived, his condition reflected the struggle that his family had in caring for him. His tusks and hooves were overgrown, he was overweight, and he had a skin condition that required treatment and monitoring. His family had done their best to care for him and made a responsible choice to surrender him to us.

During his short stay, Waddles was housed in the livestock area of SPCA Tampa Bay’s 10-acre campus in Largo, which includes a fenced pasture and a small, covered barn with two stalls. He had access to shade, fresh water, mud wallows, appropriate food and space to roam, along with regular feedings and veterinary care.

Why was Waddles transferred to a pig rescue?

SPCA Tampa Bay’s staff determined that Waddles would need several months of care before he could be adopted. A rescue specializing in pig care would be the best next step for him.

SPCA Tampa Bay frequently partners with species-specific rescues that have specialized knowledge and resources for certain animals or breeds. We reached out to our network of farm animal rescue partners, and Pork Butt Pastures in Plant City, Florida contacted SPCA Tampa Bay about Waddles.

On July 24, 2025, Pork Butt Pastures transported Waddles from SPCA Tampa Bay and began to care for him.

Where is Waddles now?

Waddles was transferred from SPCA Tampa Bay to Pork Butt Pastures in late July 2025. Pork Butt Pastures later rehomed Waddles. We are very happy that Waddles appears to be doing well with his new family. 

How did these allegations affect SPCA Tampa Bay?

Public accusations carry real consequences. Over the past year, this case placed a significant burden on SPCA Tampa Bay, our employees and the lifesaving work our community depends on.

In addition to the impact on our staff, the controversy diverted time, financial resources and attention away from our mission of serving animals and the families who rely on us.

As we reviewed our procedures, we paused livestock intake and focused on helping families identify other organizations and resources that could assist with the care of their pigs, chickens and other livestock.

The allegations affected not only our organization, but also the dedicated professionals whose integrity, compassion and commitment to animals were called into question. They deserved better.

As the judge acknowledged during the ruling, SPCA Tampa Bay agreed to help Waddles when his family had difficulty finding another organization able to accept him. Instead of being recognized for stepping forward, our organization and employees faced a year of accusations, criticism and threats.

Despite the criticism, our team continued caring for animals, supporting families and serving this community, just as SPCA Tampa Bay has done for more than 80 years. 

What does the verdict mean for SPCA Tampa Bay moving forward?

The not-guilty verdict allows SPCA Tampa Bay to move forward and refocus fully on our mission.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to ethical, responsible and compassionate care for every animal entrusted to us. We will continue supporting our animal care professionals, strengthening our practices and serving animals and families throughout our community.

While this chapter has been difficult, our focus remains where it has always been: providing exceptional care to animals and supporting the people who love them. We are grateful to everyone who stood by our staff, and we look forward to serving our community every day.

What happens next?

The legal case has concluded, and our focus is on the future. We remain committed to serving animals and the people who care for them while responsibly stewarding the resources entrusted to us. We are grateful for the support our community has shown throughout this process and look forward to moving ahead together.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who supported our staff and believed in our mission throughout this process.