Case Details

Nine dogs abandoned
Noblesville, IN (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Mar 29, 2007
County: Hamilton
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged
Charges: Misdemeanor
Case Images: 1 files available

Alleged: Adam Lee McRee

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Case ID: 11176
Classification: Neglect / Abandonment
Animal: dog (pit-bull)
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Hamilton County investigators are looking for the person responsible for dumping nine pit bulls.

Triumphant is one of nine pit bulls found malnourished and in desperate need of help, wandering in Hamilton County.

"All of them were basically on the small side, I'd say probably 30 pounds, and they should be weighing closer to 50," explained Tom Rogers, Hamilton County Sheriff's Animal Control Officer.

Investigators say all of the dogs, before they were in the care of the Hamilton County Humane Society, were abused.

The pit bulls were found in Hamilton County near Noblesville and Westfield between U.S. 31 and Little Chicago Road. The area is mostly woods and fields, surrounded by homes. The dogs were all alone and left to fend for themselves. Triumphant, found just last week, could not even eat.

Investigators say someone also filed down his front teeth.

"They just cut off right at the gum, his canines, you can see there," Stevens said.

"It's just really sad and it makes you angry and you want to find out who's responsible," said Stevens.

Three of the pit bulls have been adopted.

Anyone with information about these dogs is asked to contact the Hamilton County Sheriff's Animal Control Officer at 317-776-4110.

Case Updates

The case of a Noblesville man initially charged with abandonment and neglect of a vertebrate animal has been traded for a criminal charge.

Adam Lee McRee, 24, is now charged with cruelty to an animal a Class C misdemeanor, which carries a possible sentence of up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine per count.

He was originally arrested on nine counts of abandonment and neglect of vertebrate animals, an infraction offense � which is a civil matter rather than a criminal offense. But Hamilton County prosecutors only officially filed one of those charges.

�We filed the one count, because we had individuals who were able to identify one of the dogs that was retrieved as �Triumph,�� said Administrative Chief Deputy Jeff Wehmueller.

McRee made an appearance on the new charge in Hamilton County Magistrate Court July 11.

He was arrested after a tip to police linked him to nine pit bull dogs that were abandoned in Hamilton County.

The condition of the dogs led officials at the Humane Society of Hamilton County to believe they had been used for dog fighting.

One of the dogs, named Triumph by the Humane Society staff, died April 17 during surgery in which veterinarians found he had terminal cancer. All four of the dog�s canine incisors were missing, leaving painful, exposed roots.

Court records show a witness told police the dog lost its teeth by biting a spring pole to which it was tethered. Another witness said the dog chewed rocks.

The same affidavit states McRee admitted he dumped the same dog, which he named Firecracker, but denied fighting him or other pit bulls he owned. He said he left the collars on the dogs when he released them in order for allow them to find good homes.

A pre-trial hearing has been set for Aug. 14 and a bench trial has been tentatively set for Sept. 20.
Source: Noblesville Daily Times - July 14, 2007
Update posted on Jul 16, 2007 - 3:01AM 
A Hamilton County man could face almost five years in jail and thousands of dollars in fines for abusing and abandoning nine dogs. However, police don't believe the suspect planned to fight the dogs.

He lived in a nice house Noblesville.

"It didn't seem like it was his pet," said one neighbor. "He never walked it, out in the yard or playing with it. We thought it was gone."

The dog was gone, along with eight other pit bulls.

Police say Adam McCree abused and abandoned them. All the dogs ended up at Hamilton County Humane Society after they were found roaming roadways around Westfield. For weeks police looked for a suspect.

"When the reward was posted I actually had several really good tips that identified the dog we later identified as Triumph," said Hamilton County Animal Control Officer Deputy Tom Rogers.

More tips led to McRee and when police showed him Triumph's photo, he admitted the dog was his and he once called him Firecracker.

"He was very afraid of going to jail," said Rogers. "Finally he confessed to it."

First police suspected the dogs were used to train fighting dogs. But Rogers said McRee claims "that he was breeding them." And Rogers has no evidence the dogs were fought or trained to fight.

McRee is remorseful, Deputy Rogers says.

"I think he sincerely liked the dogs but used very poor judgment."

"I have a hard time believing it was just about breeding," said Rebecca Stevens of the Hamilton County Humane Society. "There were no puppies found."

And the dogs were so sick. The Humane Society tried to save Triumph but surgery turned up widespread cancer. He was put to sleep. The other eight were all adopted.

"This is not something you get away with. It is against the law to abandon a vertebrate animal," said Stevens.

Police say McCree kept one dog at his house and the others with family. His neighbors say McRee lifted his dog into their yards to do its business. They were glad he moved.
Source: WTHR - May 3, 2007
Update posted on May 5, 2007 - 3:57PM 

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References

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