More Than 90 Cats Removed From Southeast Memphis Home

Wednesday afternoon, animal control officers were called to a home in the 7000 block of Cannondale Cove in Southeast Memphis. They removed 91 cats.

The woman who owns the cats contacted officers from the hospital saying she needed help taking care of them. Neighbors say they had no idea there were so many.

Chuck Martin said, “We never had any clue, like I said, I'd see ‘em in the windows when I was cutting grass and that was it...two weeks ago I asked her how many she had. She said, ‘a lot.’ ”

Neighbors say the woman often referred to the cats as "her children". A veterinarian is checking the cats. The Humane Society is helping to provide temporary shelter...." More

John Garrison - Puppy Mill, Marshall County, Mississippi

Feb 6, 2010: Deputy coroner owns alledged puppy mill

By Toni Lepeska

An investigation continued Friday into a possible puppy mill located on property in Marshall County owned by the deputy coroner, John Garrison, and his wife.

A team led by the Marshall County Sheriff's Department and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals seized more than 90 dogs and puppies Thursday in a raid on the property at 210 Turner Cove.

The Garrisons signed over custody of the animals to officials. No charges had been made Friday. Sheriff Kenny Dickerson said the investigation was continuing.

An ASPCA representative said dogs and puppies, mostly small breeds, were discovered living in feces-encrusted pens. Several dead dogs also were found.

Tim Rickey, the ASPCA's senior director of field investigations and response, defined puppy mills as "substandard commercial breeding operations that house dogs in overcrowded and often unsanitary conditions, without adequate veterinary care, food, water and socialization."..." More

Feb 4, 2010: 95 Dogs Found At MS Puppy Mill

By: Shaun Chaiyabhat

• 95 dogs found living in "deplorable" conditions at puppy mill
• Several carcasses discovered on property
• MS couple expected to be charged with misdemeanor Animal Cruelty

A tip led investigators to a rural home where they discovered one of the worst puppy mills they've ever seen.

A Mississippi couple faces dozens of misdemeanor counts of Animal Cruelty. Investigators with the Marshall County Sheriff's Office and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals found 95 dogs living in what they call "deplorable conditions" early Thursday. Animal experts say the type of matted hair found on some of the dogs took years to grow. It's proof, they say, of neglect and abuse of 95 dogs found on the property. Investigators think the operation had gone on for a while, even though neighbors say they never suspected anything. It's possible the couple took in animals, but then just had too many to care for. At some point, authorities say they started to breed more -- for profit.

"I think she's probably a very nice person and she's trying to help these animals out," says Mary Champlin who lives next door.

Neighbors watch in shock, as one by one the animals are tagged and evaluated. Most have disease and malnutrition. Marshall County Prosecutor Shirley Byers says she found carcasses all over the property, skeletal remains inside pens, and a pile of ash where she thinks the homeowners disposed of dead animals..." More & video

Memphis Animal Shelter Raided

County Deputies Raid Memphis Animal Shelter

Memphis, TN - The Memphis Animal Shelter was searched by Shelby County Sheriff's deputies early Tuesday morning as part of an investigation into reports of animal abuse and cruelty.

Shelby County sheriff's deputies served a search warrant just before sunrise Tuesday after receiving a tip about conditions in the facility.

Officers "found conditions consistent with what had been reported," said sheriff's office spokesman Steve Shular.

"They found dogs that needed food and water, and it was evident that some of the dogs were diseased," Shular said..." More & video

Deputies execute search warrant at Memphis Animal Shelter & video