Cumberland County woman convicted of animal cruelty, dog Zeus recovers

CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) —  A woman in Cumberland County has pled guilty to an animal cruelty charge.

On January 17, 2024, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) responded to a civil matter at a home on Breckenridge Drive.

With the help of Cumberland County Animal Control, deputies conducted a welfare check on the animals after hearing distressing sounds from inside the home.

According to CCSO, inside they found multiple animals in various stages of neglect.

They located a tan dog living in filth, a cat who was crated in feces, and a dog named Zeus.

Zeus was severely emaciated and malnourished.

He couldn’t stand or access food and water.

Zeus was later voluntarily surrendered by Amber Cheyann Bruce.

He was immediately transported to the Cumberland County Animal Shelter.

Zeus’s body temperature was 90.6 degrees

A normal dog’s body temperature usually falls between 100.5 to 102.5 degrees.

Zeus only weighed 17 pounds, was suffering from whipworms, and both of his ears were had injuries.

According to CCSO, Bruce claimed she found Zeus two weeks before the incident.

However, his condition contradicted her claim, along with witness accounts and gathered evidence.

Staff at the shelter feared Zeus wouldn’t survive overnight, however, he did the opposite, and began a long road to recovery.

He’s now a healthy, 40 pound dog who’s very playful, sweet, and ready to be adopted into a loving home.

Bruce was charged with Animal Cruelty and pled guilty on April 24, 2025.

She received 11 months and 29 days of supervised probation.

If you or anyone you know is interested in adopting Zeus, contact the Cumberland County Animal Shelter in Crossville, Tennessee.