Charlotte Liberda and her attorney showed up in Harris County Criminal Court on Friday to hear the sentencing of Qian Feng, who had pleaded guilty to poisoning her dogs. Friends and supporters showed up too.

So many in fact that the group was asked to move into the hallway until the sentencing took place.

About an hour later they were called back into the courtroom, but unfortunately no sentencing took place. The only person who had not shown up was Feng.

Feng plead guilty to animal cruelty charges last month, admitting to poisoning several dogs in his neighborhood, including Liberda's, with cheese balls laced with strychnine — a strong, odorless poison. He faced anywhere from six months to two years in prison before his no show. Additional time likely will be added to that now if Feng is found.

Judge Denise Bradley declared, “Bond is forfeited. Issue a warrant for his arrest.” A large sign in Bradley's courtroom reads "COME AND TAKE IT", words that rang hollow on a day when man who preyed on defenseless animals failed to show to accept his fate.

Afterwards, reporters circled around Charlotte asking her questions. In typical Charlotte style, she articulated her feelings of disappointment with poise. Thursday was Charlotte’s birthday but she had held off from celebrating.

“Well,” she told me, “I was going to celebrate it today. The sentencing was going to be my birthday present.”