Hoarding 15 dogs
Memphis, TN (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Jul 1, 2008
County: Shelby
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Clarence Brown
A North Memphis man with a history of keeping dogs in horrible living conditions is fighting to get his dogs back from Memphis Animal Services.
Clarence Brown, 71, was arrested Tuesday, July 1, 2008 for disorderly conduct after police said he threatened officers. Police called animal services to Brown's home on Ayers to pick up 15 dogs that were living inside.
Brown, who bonded out of jail, has petitioned Animal Services to get his dogs back. But officials say that won't happen unless he makes some changes.
Animal Control and Code Enforcement officers have been called to Brown's home more than 20 times since 1997. He has a lengthy arrest history, including two charges of animal cruelty. In a 2006 report, police wrote that Brown's home had "an unbearable stench" and that they found "five dead dogs & several body parts of 2 or 3 others" scattered inside.
When confronted outside his home Thursday, July 3, 2008, Brown told Eyewitness news Everywhere that he loves his dogs and doesn't mistreat them. He claims to spend hundreds of dollars a month on dog food, parvo shots, and medical treatments.
Animal Control officials say Brown is a collector of animals, part of phenomenon known as animal hoarding. It results from his loneliness and deep rooted desire to help the animals. But officials say the reality is, Brown is doing more harm than good.
Eyewitness News Everywhere was at the animal shelter when a woman drove up looking to get rid of her dog. She chose to give it to Brown, even after a reporter try to warn her about his history.
Animal Services Director, Ernest Alexander says this case is a perfect example of why the city needs an ordinance limiting the number of animals in a home. No such law exists right now. References« TN State Animal Cruelty Map
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