September 23, 2008

Legal drama surrounding an animal abuse case continues for rapper DMX. (Pet Pulse Photo Design by Mike Lloyd)

NEW YORK -– Rapper DMX, charged with animal cruelty and drug charges, missed his second scheduled court appearance in Phoenix yesterday, with representatives citing "a fear of a stroke."

Legally known as Earl Simmons, the former Def Jam artist was taken to an Aventura, Fla., hospital, but is expected to show for his rescheduled court appearance in Arizona on Monday.

He faces four felony drug charges and seven misdemeanor animal-cruelty charges, stemming from a house-raid in May, as Pet Pulse previously reported.

Phoenix authorities seized 12 pit bulls and pit bull mixes during the search of his Cave Creek, Ariz., home and uncovered the remains of three partially buried -- and possibly burned -- other dogs.

Authorities say they did not find evidence of dogfighting, but noted that some of the dogs were without water and food.

Marijuana and various weapons were also found in Simmons' home.

The rapper faces additional charges of theft of services and identity theft, after he allegedly used a fake ID at a health clinic in August.

In the early morning May raid, the 37-year-old initially barricaded himself in his bedroom, and only emerged once a SWAT team entered his home.

The search was prompted by reports of dogs being abused on the property.

Since then, the convoluted case has continued to spiral downward.

Simmons missed his initial Arizona court appearance in August, then was spotted -- and arrested -- several days later in Miami.

He was extradited back to an Arizona jail on Aug. 27, but was later freed with a paid $25,000 bond, allowing him to legally travel to Florida, one of Simmons' public defenders said.

In August, Simmons' lawyer, Murray Richman, said his client had been on tour and entrusted his dogs to a caretaker, whom Simmons thought was providing for his pets accordingly.

A Maricopa County Sheriff had a different take on the matter.

"A guy like this DMX character, with all his money and fame, has no excuse for not providing proper care for his animals," Sheriff Joe Arpaio told CNN.

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Pet Pulse reporter Amy Lieberman, MTV News, CNN and TMZ.com contributed to this article.