Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Puppy mill - 101 dogs

Puppy mill - 101 dogs
Jackson, TN (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Apr 20, 2001
County: Madison
Local Map: available
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 1 files available

Abusers/Suspects:
» Sandra Kay Webb
» Tabitha Nicole Webb

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Case ID: 1102

Classification: Neglect / Abandonment

Animal: dog (non pit-bull)

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The Shelter confiscated 101 dogs...75 of which were Shar-Pei (the others were Bull Terriers, Mastiffs, Dobermans, American Bulldogs, and Basenji). All the Shar-Pei are tick & flea infested, have eye problems, skin problems (incl. sarcoptic mange, demodex and untreated allergies), severe staph infections, coccidia, giardia, hookworms, whipworms, roundworms and tapeworms. All the dogs have been heartworm tested but the results of those tests are not back in yet. Quite a few of those dogs have also had skin scrapes to determine their skin problems. There were several pregnant dogs including one who is partially blind, very bowlegged and undernourished. Ages ranged from 5 week old puppies to older adult dogs.

Sandra and Nicole Webb (mother and daughter) were charged with 101 counts of animal cruelty. On December 7, 2000, they were found guilty on 48 counts and the remaining 53 counts were either "hung jury" or "not guilty". An Order of Forfeiture for the 48 dogs in the guilty group was signed by Madison Co. Judge Roger Page. The Sentencing Hearing was held January 2nd. During that hearing, Judge Page ruled the following:

(1) The Webbs cannot own any pets for 10 years.
(2) 50 hours of community service.
(3) Fines of $10,000 total given by the Jury were upheld by Judge Page.
(4) A jail sentence of 11 months and 29 days was imposed and then suspended EXCEPT for 60 days that was to begin on April 2nd. They were placed on probation until their report date on April 2nd.
(5) The Webbs had 90 days to sell (fair market value) the 53 dogs in the hung or not guilty group.
(6) The Judge entered a lien against the 53 dogs on behalf of the Jackson-Madison Co. Humane Society in lieu of restitution for the dogs care. The amount of the lien was not determined at that time.

On January 10, 2001, a routine check by the Webbs' probation officers found 15 dogs and one cat at their residence. Sandra Webb was arrested at the scene. Nicole Webb was arrested the following day thanks to a concerned Jackson citizen who reported her whereabouts to the police.

On January 16, 2001, Judge Page ordered both Webbs to immediately serve 11 months and 29 days in jail for disregarding his previous order not to own or possess any animals for 10 years. Judge Page also declined to set bail. The Webbs will be eligible for early release after nine months. If released early, they will be placed on probation and made to serve their community service. If they serve the full sentence, the probation and community service are dropped. Either way, they are still responsible for the fines and they cannot own animals for 10 years.

The Webbs' attorney argued that these new dogs were actually owned by a woman (Amanda Davis) living in the Webbs' home. From Judge Page..."There can be no question that, based on Miss Davis' testimony, that the Webbs never stopped keeping dogs. I find Miss Davis' testimony incredible and not true. I believe they jointly owned these dogs".

The 53 not guilty or hung dogs are still in limbo and not yet available for adoption although they are still in custody

Case Updates

The defendants, Sandra Kay Webb and Tabitha Nicole Webb, were convicted of forty-seven counts of cruelty to animals and each was sentenced to concurrent sentences of eleven months and twenty-nine days for each count, with incarceration for sixty days and a prohibition from either owning animals for ten years.

In addition, the defendants were ordered to pay $39,978.85 in restitution to the Jackson-Madison County Humane Society and to perform fifty hours of community service work, and each defendant was fined a total of $5000. Soon afterwards, the trial court found that each had possessed animals since their convictions and revoked their community corrections sentences.

On appeal, the defendants argue that their convictions should be reversed because the search warrant affidavit was defective, as was its execution; the affiant was untruthful in the affidavit; the animal cruelty statute is unconstitutionally vague; animal shelter records, utilized by the State during the trial, were hearsay and should not have been allowed; the evidence was insufficient, failing to prove either that the defendants acted knowingly or intentionally or failed to provide necessary care; the humane society was not entitled to restitution; the defendants should not have been required to serve their sentences in incarceration or prohibited for ten years from possessing animals; their community corrections sentences should not have been revoked; and the court should not have ordered that their dogs be forfeited.

Following judicial review, the court affirmed the judgments of the trial court as to forty-seven of the counts, but remand for entry of a corrected judgment to show that the defendants were acquitted of Count 8 and for an evidentiary hearing as to the payment of restitution.

Source: Tennessee Court of Appeals - No. W2001-00447-CCA-R3-CD - Filed June 24, 2003
Update posted on Oct 24, 2005 - 1:09PM

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Puppy mill - 101 dogsJackson, TN (US)

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Puppy mill - 101 dogs
Jackson, TN (US)