Charles Perkins - Blout County, Tennessee

Jun 23, 2010: Some dogs rescued from Blount County property may have been stolen.

By Iva Butler

Some of the dogs rescued from dismal circumstances Friday night at a remote Wildwood Road residence may have owners.

Blount County Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSCPA) seized 20 dogs from the property.

Authorities have charged the property owner, Charles Arden Perkins, 63, with cruelty to animals...

...Anyone recognizing their pet can call BCSPCA President Vickey Dennis at 256-9106 or the shelter at 980-6244...""More & pictures

Jun 19, 2010: Case of animal ‘hoarding' results in arrest

By Mark Boxley

In a macabre scene that included skulls that had been hung in trees and remains of dogs — at least a dozen — left to rot on the metal roof of a small outbuilding on a heavily wooded piece of property on Wildwood Road in Maryville, 20 live animals were removed from the property and remains of 22 more were found.

Investigators expect to find more, with remains of as many as 100 dead dogs possibly left strewn across several acres, covered by leaves and thick wooded underbrush..." More & video (graphic)

Jun 18, 2010: Dozens of living and dead dogs found on Blount County property

Steve Butera

A Blount County man is behind bars, charged with animal cruelty.

Kellie Bachman, with the Blount County SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), said they got a tip that took them to the home of Charles Perkins, 63, on Wildwood Road, back in January. At that time, Perkins had 30 dogs on his property. Perkins agreed then to reduce the number of animals to four, which he did, for a while.

Then on Tuesday, Bachman said one of Perkin's dogs ran into the road and was hit by a car. When animal control officers came to assist, the dog ran back on to the property. The officers followed, and discovered a number of living and deceased dogs.

"The animals had collars that were too tight and embedded. They were tied to small leads and confined into a small area," said Bachman.

The SPCA obtained a search warrant and served it Friday afternoon. Officials found and removed around 20 live dogs, and found the bodies of 20 dead dogs. They also discovered the skeletal remains of other dogs. They estimate that number could reach 100 by the time they check the entire property.

The surviving dogs are being removed and taken to the Blount County Animal Center for evaluation and treatment.

"(We'll) go ahead and start cataloging the live animals to get them to a shelter for some relief and get them off the property," said Bachman.

Perkins surrendered the dogs, and was arrested.

Bachman also says a white Dodge Ram pickup truck spotted on the property matches the description of a vehicle seen in areas where dogs have gone missing..." More & video

PA man busted for wild animal hoarding

by Amy Worden

Too often we hear stories about individuals who hoard cats and dogs. Now comes a case in northeastern Pennsylvania of wild animal hoarding.

Stephen Andrew Moore, 46, of Tannersville, Monroe County, pleaded guilty to what the Pennsylvania Game Commission called an unusual form of poaching: possession of wildlife illegally taken from the wild for “a hobby that got out of control."

On Thursday Moore pled guilty to 30 counts of illegal possession of various species ranging from blue jays to raccoons, from chipping sparrows to gray squirrels, from groundhogs to purple finches, according to the game commission As part of the plea agreement, charges against Moore for cruelty to animals were withdrawn. A judge ordered Moore to pay $2,250 in fines, and $750 in reimbursement to the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center for expenses incurred treating the wildlife that survived.

In May, game officers followed up on a tip and went to Moore’s home in Pocono Township to investigate alleged illegal possession of birds.

“When we arrived, we saw several cages and multiple bird traps on the front porch,”Officer Scott Malicky said. “Also visible from the front porch were several bird traps in the backyard.”

The following day, officers returned to the home with a search warrant and they found dozens of animals in poor health, living in filthy cages. A search of the residence resulted in the seizure of 13 goldfinches; 11 pine siskins (like the one pictured above); 7 house finches; 5 dark-eyed juncos; 4 purple finches; 3 blue jays; 3 gray squirrels; 2 groundhogs; 2 raccoons; 2 indigo buntings; 1 chipping sparrow; 2 black-capped chickadees; 2 rose-breasted grosbeaks; 1 cardinal; 1 brown-headed cowbird; 1 house sparrow; 1 mourning dove; and five others needing identification due to decomposition..." More

Animals seized from abusive situation on property in California Valley

By Bill Halter

Dozens of animals are in the Animal Services shelter or sheriff's custody after being rescued Friday from property in the California Valley. Investigators headed out to the property on Coutolance road after a tip that animals were not being cared for.

The owner of the property where the animals were seized is currently sick in a Los Angeles hospital. Two care takers who are not being named were looking after the animals that included dogs, cats, rabbits, goats and sheep. Deputies say some of the animals have been living in foul, feces ridden water. Who is responsible for the living conditions is currently unknown.

"Deputies from the rural crime task force responded and evaluated not only the sick animals but the carcasses of dead animals. Called animal services, they responded with their crew and we impounded a number of animals" says public information officer Rob Bryn.

Hundreds more animals are still quarantined on the property because the shelter couldn't possibly take them all in. Bryn says, "We impounded eight adult dogs, two puppies, a large number of cats and over 50-rabbits. Some of which survived the trip to the shelter, others did not." Andrea Liddie works for Animal Services and says, "It's not ideal the housing we can give them here but they are cleaned, their fed, their cared for, their being kept in healthy environments.".." More & video