58 dogs removed from dilapidated house

LaReeca Rucker

Nearly 60 dogs have been removed from the home of a Holmes County woman who once was a breeder but fell on hard times and couldn't feed or properly care for the animals.

The former nurse, who is now disabled, was living in a dilapidated home with 58 dogs. Most were wire-haired terriers.

"She loved the dogs so much and didn't want to give them to someone who wouldn't take care of them," said Doll Stanley, director of investigations for the Mid-South office of In Defense of Animals. "The whole north side of her house had fallen off, but she was bound to her house because she didn't know what to do with the dogs."

With no way to continue financially supporting the animals, the woman called Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, which alerted In Defense of Animals.

Stanley and Dr. Walter Roberts, a Lexington veterinarian, evaluated the situation in January, helped remove the first 19 dogs, and provided urgent care for the animals.

Roberts said he didn't want to release the name of the woman because she is elderly and lives alone.

"She gave up all she had for these animals, and she went without," he said. "One of the reasons she acquired some of the mixed-breed dogs is because people would drop them off in the neighborhood and they would come to her house."

The woman soon will move into a habitable home and keep one terrier, Natasha, who will be spayed.

"That this woman has lived in dire conditions suffering a disabled back, and begged for food for her animals, is a tribute to her true commitment to them," Stanley said. "She isn't a collector who acquires animals she can't help.

"Though she falls under the 'hoarder' category for allowing the dogs to multiply, I'm humbled by her will to stand by them and ask for help."

In Defense of Animals' Project Hope sanctuary near Grenada and Mississippi Spay & Neuter are teaming to spay and neuter the dogs that were released to In Defense of Animals. MS SPAN spayed 20 Friday at their "Big Fix" rig in Pearl.

On Tuesday, Project Hope will take many of the dogs to Every Creature Counts in Denver to place the dogs for adoption. ECC will show the dogs during an upcoming PetSmart Charities "Adopt-a-thon."

"The reason they are going to Colorado is because our sanctuary is filled to capacity," Stanley said. "We know they will get homes in Colorado. In Mississippi, we have too many dogs and cats. They will never get homes here."

Stanley said this single case has cost In Defense of Animals $8,100...." More

Kathy and Tom Phillips, Clarksdale-Coahoma County Animal Shelter - Mississippi

Jan 27, 2009: Police: No charges against ex-animal shelter director

NICKLAUS LOVELADY

Clarksdale police will not charge a former animal shelter director accused of hoarding hundreds of dog and cats.

The Clarksdale-Coahoma County Animal Shelter remained closed Tuesday as officials strategized on where to place the animals and how to reopen the shelter.

Clarksdale City Attorney Curtis Boshert said the city owns the building and contracted with Cathy Phelps over the past 12 years to operate the no-kill shelter. He said the city's budget for the shelter was about $20,000 annually.

Although the shelter was supposed to be for the city and county, Boshert said the shelter did not turn away any animals.

"We know some were being brought in from outside the county. They didn't put any down, and that's how we got this overloaded," Boshert said.

Phelps was not available for comment Tuesday.

A complaint reported to In Defense of Animals led to the discovery of 340 dogs and 40 cats at the shelter. The shelter was designed to hold about 60 animals, said Doll Stanley, regional director of investigations for the animal rights group.

Stanley said the animals were living in deplorable conditions. Many were maimed and exposed to diseases. Some lived in those conditions for years, she said.

"You don't store animals. They're living beings," Stanley said.

Stanley presented her findings to city officials, and they confronted Phelps. On Friday, Phelps resigned, Stanley said.

City officials hired a new shelter director Monday. The city is working to frame new policies and procedures for the shelter. Included is whether the shelter will remain no-kill and establishing a maximum number of animals it will be allowed to take.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals already moved about 180 animals to animal shelters in Atlanta and Florida...." Link

Jan 25, 2010: ASPCA Takes Charge of Clarksdale Shelter

by: Dennis Turner

Clarksdale, MS - FAST FACTS:

• Shelter operators tried to run "no kill" shelter
• 400 animals found in shelter meant for 60
• ASPCA, other groups clean up, remove animals

The situation at a Mid-South animal shelter has become so bad, city leaders called in a national group to step in and take care of a growing problem.

The Clarksdale shelter was closed Monday, so volunteers could get a handle on a situation that left more than four hundred animals crowded into a space meant for just 60.

Hundreds of dogs and dozens of cats shared space in what volunteers called a dilapidated metal building just hours before animal lovers from around the country descended on the Clarksdale-Coahoma animal shelter to take charge and clean up what they called a horrible mess.

It left animal lovers here almost in tears. "I didn't really know all this was going on. I just found out this morning and it's upset me," said Linda Taylor of Clarksdale.

She says Kathy and Tom Phillips had done their best to run a no-kill shelter and ended up with more than they could handle.

"The smell was overwhelming. The room we are in now, was crowded with animals, there were feces, it was a horrible environment for these animals to live in," Said Tim Rickey of the ASPCA.

Over the weekend, town leaders finally stepped in.

Clarksdale Police Chief Greg Hoskins called in the ASPCA to help address the many problems. They in turn, put out the word, and groups responded from around the country.

Some of the volunteers weren't quite ready for what they found. "This is one of the most dire, horrendous situations I've ever seen," said Linda Ware of the Atlanta Humane Society..." More & video