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A Pinellas County animal-cruelty case has drawn attention after deputies said a tiny senior Chihuahua named Princess was thrown from a moving SUV and suffered serious injuries. The suspects, twin sisters Tracey Denise Fitzgerald and Stacey Latoya Fitzgerald, were arrested on felony animal-cruelty charges. Both women were reported to be 54 years old. The Smoking Gun reported that Tracey and Stacey were arrested Thursday evening after investigators reviewed witness statements, police records and veterinary records connected to the January 22 incident.

Princess was described as a 16-year-old, three-pound, long-haired Chihuahua. According to The Smoking Gun, Stacey Fitzgerald was the dog’s owner and was sitting in the passenger seat of an SUV driven by Tracey Fitzgerald when the incident occurred. The arrest affidavit reported that the SUV was traveling about 50 mph on a Largo-area roadway when the dog was thrown from the front passenger-side window. A witness told investigators the dog landed about five feet from the vehicle onto the sidewalk.

The alleged throw was not treated as an accident in the affidavit. According to The Smoking Gun and local reporting from IONTB, a witness identified Tracey Fitzgerald as the person who threw the dog, and Stacey Fitzgerald allegedly confirmed the identification. Court records reviewed in the reporting did not describe a motive for the alleged act. That blank space makes the case feel even harsher: a small elderly dog, a moving vehicle, a public roadway and no publicly reported explanation for why the animal was thrown.

The medical information was severe. The Smoking Gun reported that Princess suffered acute blunt-force trauma, abrasions, a bleeding eye and suspected traumatic brain injury. The veterinary investigative exam published with the case described Princess as quiet, alert and responsive on intake, but said her injuries were consistent with blunt-force trauma. The exam noted eye trauma, soft-tissue injuries and wounds to multiple areas of the body. The medical summary also said Princess required emergency diagnostics, fluids, pain management and ongoing monitoring.

The case then took a second turn involving the dog’s medical care. Stacey Fitzgerald, identified as Princess’s owner, allegedly declined emergency treatment and life-saving measures for the dog. IONTB reported that she refused to sign paperwork authorizing a $1,000 hold for emergency veterinary care and argued with staff. The Smoking Gun reported that Pinellas County Animal Services later took custody of Princess and began civil proceedings against Stacey. Animal welfare officials alleged the dog was suffering and that the owner could not adequately care for the animal.

Pinellas County Animal Services became an important part of the case because the animal was not simply left in private custody after the reported injuries. The county agency states that it safeguards public health, public safety and animal welfare, and works to eliminate neglect and abuse of domestic animals within its jurisdiction. That mission became directly relevant here, because the allegations included both a violent roadside injury and a refusal to authorize the emergency care that veterinarians believed was necessary.

The criminal charges were brought under Florida’s animal-cruelty law. Florida Statute 828.12 makes ordinary animal cruelty a first-degree misdemeanor, but aggravated animal cruelty applies when a person intentionally commits an act, or fails to act while owning or controlling an animal, resulting in cruel death or excessive or repeated unnecessary pain or suffering. The statute classifies aggravated animal cruelty as a third-degree felony. Under Florida sentencing law, a third-degree felony may carry up to five years in prison, while the animal-cruelty statute itself authorizes fines up to $10,000 for aggravated animal cruelty. Those are possible statutory penalties, not confirmed sentences in this case.

The available reporting lists Tracey Fitzgerald and Stacey Fitzgerald as charged with animal cruelty. The arrest documents show separate probable-cause narratives for each woman. Tracey’s affidavit focused on the allegation that she intentionally threw Princess from the vehicle. Stacey’s affidavit focused on her role as the dog’s owner and the allegation that she refused emergency veterinary care after the dog’s obvious injuries. The two charges therefore appear to rest on different theories: direct alleged physical harm by Tracey and alleged failure to act by Stacey as owner.

The bond information also differed by defendant. The Smoking Gun reported that Tracey Fitzgerald was released after posting a $5,000 bond and that a judge ordered she could not own or possess animals. Stacey Fitzgerald reportedly spent a night in jail and was released on her own recognizance. IONTB reported that bond was set at $5,000 for each woman, while The Smoking Gun’s later account distinguished Tracey’s posted bond from Stacey’s own-recognizance release. Because bond reporting can shift quickly after first appearance, this article describes both the reported bond details and the release outcomes as carefully as possible.

No conviction or final sentence was confirmed in the available sources reviewed for this article. IONTB reported that the case remained pending in Pinellas County Circuit Court. The Smoking Gun’s report focused on the arrests, probable-cause affidavits, veterinary records and animal-services custody proceedings. Until a court disposition is verified, Tracey Fitzgerald and Stacey Fitzgerald should be described as arrested and accused, not convicted.

The case has drawn attention because it combines three especially sensitive elements: a very small elderly dog, a moving vehicle and an alleged refusal of emergency medical care. For animal-cruelty readers, the most important victim-centered fact is that Princess survived the initial incident long enough to be evaluated and taken into county care, but the veterinary records described serious trauma and ongoing monitoring needs. The public outrage is not hard to understand. A three-pound senior dog has almost no physical protection against a 50 mph roadside impact. The law, at least in the allegations, now has to decide what accountability follows.

Section 1: The Crime

The alleged crime was felony animal cruelty. Deputies said Princess, a 16-year-old Chihuahua weighing about three pounds, was thrown from the front passenger-side window of an SUV traveling about 50 mph. A witness said the dog landed on the sidewalk approximately five feet from the vehicle.

Tracey Fitzgerald was accused of throwing the dog from the moving SUV. Stacey Fitzgerald, identified as Princess’s owner, was accused of failing to authorize emergency medical care after the dog was seriously injured. The available records therefore describe two related but distinct allegations: a violent act against the dog and a later refusal to act for the dog’s medical welfare.

Section 2: Crime Location

The incident occurred in Pinellas County, Florida. Local reporting and the arrest affidavit placed the incident near 14019 66th Street North in the Largo area. The vehicle was described as traveling along a roadway when Princess was allegedly thrown from the passenger-side window.

Section 3: Date And Time Of Crime

The incident was reported to have occurred on January 22, 2026, at approximately 4:00 p.m. The Fitzgerald sisters were arrested on February 26, 2026. The Smoking Gun published its report on March 2, 2026, and IONTB published local coverage on March 1, 2026.

Section 4: Police Department

The case was handled by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. The agency lists its Sheriff’s Administration Building at 10750 Ulmerton Road, Largo, Florida 33778. For emergencies, residents should call or text 911. The sheriff’s office lists 727-582-6200 as its non-emergency number for crimes that are not in progress and for general information.

Pinellas County Animal Services also became involved after the dog’s injuries and medical-care dispute. The agency is located at 12450 Ulmerton Road in Largo and lists 727-582-2600 as its main phone number, with an option for animal concerns.

Section 5: Suspect Name

The suspects were identified as Tracey Denise Fitzgerald and Stacey Latoya Fitzgerald. The Smoking Gun identified them as twin sisters. Tracey’s affidavit listed the name Tracey Denise Fitzgerald, while Stacey’s affidavit listed Stacey Latoya Fitzgerald.

Section 6: Suspect Age

Both Tracey Fitzgerald and Stacey Fitzgerald were reported to be 54 years old at the time of arrest.

Section 7: Charges

Both women were charged with animal cruelty. The Smoking Gun described the counts as felony charges. The affidavits cited Florida Statute 828.12(2), the aggravated animal-cruelty provision. Under that statute, a person commits aggravated animal cruelty if an intentional act, or a failure to act by someone who owns or controls an animal, results in cruel death or excessive or repeated unnecessary pain or suffering. The offense is a third-degree felony.

Important wording note: Tracey Fitzgerald’s charge is tied to the allegation that she threw Princess from the moving SUV. Stacey Fitzgerald’s charge is tied to the allegation that, as the dog’s owner, she failed to authorize necessary emergency treatment after the dog was injured.

Section 8: Bond Amount

The Smoking Gun reported that Tracey Fitzgerald was released after posting $5,000 bond and that a judge ordered her not to own or possess animals. Stacey Fitzgerald reportedly spent a night in jail and was released on her own recognizance. IONTB reported that bond was set at $5,000 for each woman. Because release and bond information can change during first-appearance proceedings, the safest wording is to say Tracey was reported released on $5,000 bond and Stacey was reported released on her own recognizance.

Section 9: Conviction

No conviction was confirmed in the available sources reviewed for this article. The case should be described as an arrest and allegation unless a final court disposition is verified through official court records.

Section 10: Sentence

No final sentence was confirmed in the reviewed sources. Florida law classifies aggravated animal cruelty under Statute 828.12(2) as a third-degree felony. Florida sentencing law states that a third-degree felony may carry up to five years in prison, and the animal-cruelty statute authorizes a fine of up to $10,000. These are possible statutory penalties only, not confirmed sentences in this case.

Section 11: Outcome

The reported outcome so far is that both women were arrested and charged. Tracey Fitzgerald was reported released after posting bond, while Stacey Fitzgerald was reported released on her own recognizance after a night in jail. Pinellas County Animal Services took custody of Princess and began civil proceedings connected to the dog’s care. No final criminal case outcome was confirmed in the sources reviewed.

Section 12: Victim

The victim was Princess, a 16-year-old, three-pound, long-haired Chihuahua. Veterinary records described injuries consistent with blunt-force trauma, including injuries around the eye and head, abrasions and suspected traumatic brain injury. The medical summary stated that Princess continued to be monitored for neurological status, pain, wound progression and overall clinical stability.

There was no human victim reported as physically injured in the available sources. The State of Florida and Pinellas County authorities brought the criminal case because Florida law treats serious cruelty against animals as a criminal offense.

Why This Case Drew Attention

This case drew attention because of the stark mismatch between the alleged act and the victim’s size. Princess was a senior Chihuahua weighing only about three pounds. A fall or impact from a moving vehicle could be catastrophic for an animal that small, especially at the speed described by deputies. The allegation that the dog was thrown from a vehicle rather than accidentally falling out is what turned the incident into a felony animal-cruelty case.

The refusal-of-treatment allegation added another layer. In many animal-cruelty cases, the first question is what caused the injury. Here, investigators also focused on what happened after the injury. Stacey Fitzgerald was accused not of throwing Princess, but of failing to authorize emergency care after the dog showed visible injuries. That is why the case involves both direct alleged cruelty and alleged neglect or failure to act.

The case also highlights the role of animal services in criminal investigations. Pinellas County Animal Services did not merely provide background support. The agency took custody of Princess after the emergency-care dispute and continued monitoring her medical condition. In animal-cruelty cases, that intervention can be the bridge between an injured animal remaining with an owner and an injured animal receiving protective custody and ongoing care.

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