Dead dogs discovered in freezer; volunteers perform rescues

By: Cheryl Glassford

Another shocking discovery in an animal abuse investigation in Casey County.

Authorities have found about a dozen dead dogs in freezers at a home on Chelf Ridge Road.

The animal cruelty investigation had begun earlier in the week after a neighbor called authorities after witnessing a dog eating another dog. The discovery of the other dead dogs came during further examination of the house on Sunday.

111 dogs have been removed from the property (of Cheryl Turner), and either rushed to veterinary clinics or the Garrard County animal shelter. Volunteers with United Rescues of Kentucky and Central Kentucky Regional Humane Society cared for and documented all of the dogs, and set up a triage center. The dogs were tested and vaccinated. Some were in critical condition. One died..." More & video

120 pigeons, 2 turkeys seized from Louisville home

Imagine having 115 pigeons living at your home!

Those with Metro Animal Services say a Louisville man did.

There were 120 pigeons and two turkeys seized from a Louisville home and taken to Oldham County.

Metro Animal Services worked with Oldham County Animal Control to get the birds out of the home.

Other bird owners have come forward to take in the birds.

Those with Metro Animal Services believe the man may be a hoarder and they say they don't know why he had so many pigeons..." Link & video

Year-End Study Names 2009's "Five Best States to be an Animal Abuser"

Animal Legal Defense Fund Releases Annual Report Ranking Animal Cruelty Laws Across the NationFor immediate release

Contact:Lisa Franzetta, Animal Legal Defense Fund

Stephan Otto, Animal Legal Defense Fund

SAN FRANCISCO – Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Mississippi, and North Dakota are the five best states in the country to be an animal abuser, according to a new report released today by the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF). Based on a detailed comparative analysis of more than 3,800 pages of statutes, tracking fourteen distinct categories of provisions, the report recognizes the states where animal law has real teeth, and calls out those like Kentucky – the single worst in the nation again this year for animal protection laws – where animal abusers get off easy. The annual report, the only one of its kind in the nation, ranks all fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories for the general comprehensiveness and relative strength of their respective animal protection laws.

Why are these five states in the dog house when it comes to getting tough on animal abuse? The legislative weaknesses seen in the states at the bottom of the animal protection barrel include severely restricted or absent felony animal cruelty provisions, inadequate animal fighting provisions, and lack of restrictions on the future ownership of animals for those convicted of cruelty to animals. Many state laws have improved since ALDF’s last state rankings report was released in 2008; Arkansas, for example, was one of the worst five states last year, but jumped up to 25th overall in the country in 2009 due to a host of statutory improvements. On the other end of the spectrum, this year’s “best five for animals” list remains unchanged from the 2008 list, with California, Illinois, Maine, Michigan and Oregon demonstrating through their laws the strongest commitment to combating animal cruelty; Illinois was the very best of the best for the strength of its laws protecting animals...." More

Family members say alleged cat hoarder suffers from mental illness

There is new information about a woman who animal control says hoarded dozens of cats in her small apartment.

47 cats and a dog were seized after animal control found deplorable conditions inside the residence.

The woman, who has been identified as Lynn Jackson, has been known as an animal hoarder for at least the past seven years.

Family members say she suffers from mental illness that has been incredibly debilitating.

They say they just want their loved one to get help before the problem gets worse..." More & video

Oct 14, 2009: Woman sought for hoarding dozens of animals

by Charles Gazaway

LOUISVILLE- Authorities are searching for a woman accused of abandoning dozens of cats and a dog.

Metro Animal Services posted abandonment notices outside the apartment at 1517 Oleanda Avenue after getting complaints from neighbors. After MAS was able to get a warrant to get inside the home, they found all over four dozen animals inside living in filth.

“So you can imagine 47 cats?” said Jackie Gulbe of Metro Animal Services. “We don't know how long they were unattended, but the conditions were pretty bad.”

Metro Animal Services was able to save the cats, kittens and the dog. They will watch them for the next five days to see if they're suitable for adoption.

Officials are still looking for the owner, Lynn Jackson. When found, she will likely face charges.

If you are looking to adopt a cat, MAS is offering $25.00 off its adoption fee for cats that are six months or older until November 1..." More

250 Sick, Dead Animals Seized From Ky. Garage

31 Animals Found Dead, 37 More Euthanized

CARROLL COUNTY, Ky. -- More than 250 animals were seized from a garage in Carroll County, including some dead and many sick ones, WLKY-TV in Louisville, Ky., reported.

They were found in the town of Worthville.

The animals included chickens, rabbits, ducks, a quail, a peacock and two turkeys.

"They were pretty horrific -- feces everywhere. We did find more dead animals when we got there laying around," said Carroll County Animal Support director Tammie Crawford.

Among the problems the team found were chickens with maggots in their feathers, ducks crowded together in cages, animals with respiratory problems, underfed and live animals in the same unclean cages with dead animals, many of them badly decomposed.

“As we got the birds out, we would find one laying there that they were just trampling all over,” said Crawford.

Thirty-one of the animals were found dead. Thirty-seven more had to be euthanized and many of the rest of them were underfed or ill.

The local health department said the owner of the animals, Donnie Cannon, has been issued a citation.

Police said Cannon had an auction service and he would acquire the animals for resale.

Crawford said this incident isn't the first time there's been a complaint about Cannon..." More

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So. Louisville woman charged with neglect of over 40 pets

An ongoing investigation of animal neglect has led authorities to a disturbing discovery. Five dozen animals were living in a south Louisville home with a woman and a young child.

Authorities say they received several calls from concerned people about what was happening in this house. Neighbors told us, off camera, they guessed anywhere from 40 to 50 animals had to be living at a home off of S. 5th Street.

As it turns out 60 animals -- 56 cats and 4 dogs were confiscated Friday night from Launa Calvert's home. They were taken to Metro Animal Services. Only the dogs and 12 of the cats were healthy enough to survive.

"She signed over a large amount of cats and they were humanely euthanized because they were very sick and in very very very poor health,” said Metro Animal Services Director Jackie Gulbe..." More

Man Found Guilty Of Animal Cruelty

Following a trial in Adair District Court Monday, a Columbia man was found guilty of 34 counts of second degree cruelty to animals.

David Coppage, 71, of Columbia, was found guilty of the 34 counts by the jury. Thirty three counts were related to dogs, and one to chickens. The amount of fines owed by Coppage and the disposition of the animals, which are currently being held at the Green River Animal Shelter, will be finalized by Judge Michael Loy next Monday, Aug. 3.

Coppage and another individual, Marshall Bunch, were arrested on Mar. 17 of this year after Adair County Sheriff Ralph Curry and Deputy Bruce McCloud executed a search warrant at Coppage's home at 2096 Highway 55 South.

A total of 34 dogs, four cats, 73 chickens, 38 exotic birds and numerous ducks were removed from the residence.

According to statements made at the time of the arrests by Green River Animal Shelter director Jeff Thomas, the majority of the animals were found in the basement. Most of the dogs were housed in male-female pairs in pet carriers or small cages, and the birds were in small cages.

Marshall Bunch, who was charged with two counts of second degree cruelty to animals, entered a plea in May in which he was placed in a diversion program for two years, ordered to pay restitution and forfeited rights to the animals seized..." More

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