A Florida animal control officer allegedly charged $386.64 for her personal dog’s veterinary care to a city credit card, then returned to the hospital seeking paperwork that would place the dog under the municipality’s account, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
Chelsie Nichole Willis, 36, of Fort McCoy, was arrested on Oct. 16, 2026, on a fraudulent-credit-card-use allegation involving more than $100. The disputed payment was made at East Coast Animal Hospital in Palm Coast, which also provided legitimate veterinary services to the city.
The same visit involved municipal expenses and a separate personal account for Willis’s dog, Layla. Employees at the hospital later raised concerns with city administrators, who brought the matter to sheriff’s investigators.
The city also has written rules restricting personal use of purchasing cards and requiring employees and supervisors to document government transactions.
A City Payment Went Through Before Her Dog’s $386.64 Bill
On Sept. 18, Willis took Layla to East Coast Animal Hospital. She also handled payments for animals served through her work for Palm Coast, according to the arrest-affidavit account reported by FlaglerLive. An attempt to charge $2,000 for city veterinary services was declined, but a subsequent $1,000 municipal payment was approved.
Willis then asked a hospital employee to pull up her personal account and used the same government card to pay Layla’s bill, investigators allege. The News-Journal reported that the card bore the Palm Coast emblem and was generally kept inside a paper sleeve for official transactions. The $1,000 authorized payment was a separate charge, not part of the alleged $386.64 misuse.
The Clinic Refused to Put Layla on the City’s Account
Willis returned on Oct. 6 and asked clinic staff to move Layla out of her personal billing account and onto the city’s account, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said. The News-Journal, citing a charging affidavit, reported that she also requested a new receipt reflecting the change.
Hospital employee Linda Dixon-Gray refused, explaining that changing the records that way would violate clinic policy and falsify its paperwork. Willis reportedly explained that she had not had money to pay at the earlier appointment. Clinic employees notified city administrators, who contacted the sheriff’s office. Deputies opened the investigation on Oct. 15.
Investigators compared the hospital’s records with city financial documentation, which the sheriff’s office said substantiated the $386.64 unauthorized charge.
Willis Was Arrested and Suspended With Pay
Sheriff’s detectives arrested Willis on Oct. 16, and she was booked at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility. The sheriff’s initial announcement listed a $2,500 bond. The News-Journal later reported that she posted bond and was released that day.
City administrators escorted Willis from City Hall, according to FlaglerLive. A city spokesperson said she had been suspended with pay pending an Oct. 20 personnel hearing, during which she could respond before any termination decision.
The arrest also reduced the city’s animal control staff to one officer for routine calls, after three of its five positions had been eliminated earlier in the year. FlaglerLive reported that trained code enforcement employees could provide backup on animal control calls.
Palm Coast’s Purchasing Rules Bar Personal Card Expenses
Palm Coast’s published purchasing-card procedures prohibit personal purchases unless the city manager grants prior approval. The document defines personal transactions as expenses unrelated to an employee’s official duties that benefit the employee rather than the municipality.
Cardholders must provide detailed receipts for purchases within three business days. Department supervisors and directors review transactions, accounts payable checks supporting documentation, and an accountant reconciles bank statements against entries in the city’s financial system.
The policy also directs employees to report unintended and fraudulent purchases, attempt to resolve improper charges and complete an internal misuse form when applicable. It authorizes disciplinary measures for violations, including possible termination.
Why a $386.64 Card Charge Can Be a Felony
Florida’s credit-card fraud statute addresses specified card-use and cardholder-impersonation conduct committed with intent to defraud. The law applies the higher penalty category when qualifying fraudulent transactions involve $100 or more in a six-month period, or when the card is used in violation of the statute more than twice.
Under Section 817.67, that category is a third-degree felony, ordinarily punishable by up to five years in prison and a possible fine of up to $5,000. Those figures are maximum statutory penalties, not an indication of what sentence would be imposed.
Willis was authorized to handle municipal purchases as part of her job, but that access would not authorize personal expenses contrary to the city’s rules. She is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
How Municipalities Can Trace Improper Vendor Charges
When a vendor serves a city and also handles employees’ private accounts, an effective check is to reconcile each card charge against an itemized bill identifying the animal, the service and the municipal purpose. That would allow a reviewer to distinguish veterinary expenses for city animals from charges on an employee’s personal pet account. Retaining the original vendor record if someone requests a later account change can help establish what was billed and approved at the time of payment.