Case Snapshot
Case ID: 14237
Classification: Neglect / Abandonment
Animal: dog (non pit-bull)
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Attorneys/Judges
Judge(s): Tom Lucas


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Saturday, May 24, 2008

County: Cleveland

Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Lila Beth Taylor

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

A Lexington woman has been charged with cruelty to animals, after dog breeders went to the woman's former residence in rural Cleveland County and discovered 19 dogs in "horrible" condition, one of which had been buried alive, according to court documents.

Lila Beth Taylor, 42, was charged with cruelty to animals, after Cleveland County Sheriff's Office investigators reportedly took photographs of the woman's former residence in the 8500 block of Southeast 149th Street. Several animal carcasses and skeletal remains were found on the property, deputies said.

Dog breeders Karen Cox, JoLynn McCarver and Pat Westover went to the Taylor's residence May 24 by request, to "pick up dogs not being taken care of."

The women operate breeding businesses and trade dogs for breeding purposes, deputies said. The women reportedly found the dogs "malnourished and infested with fleas, ticks and hookworms."

One dog, "Bullet," was found "buried alive in one of the pens with only his nose sticking out of the dirt," deputies said. The dog was taken for medical treatment, but later died of hookworm, according to the veterinarian.

Animal remains were found in all three pens, deputies said. Several dogs were kept for more than a year in a 10 foot by 10 foot storage shed with poor ventilation and the floor covered with feces. The bodies of dogs that died were not removed from the shed, and other dogs were allowed to eat their remains, investigators said.

Taylor told deputies she asked the breeders to remove the animals when she could no longer care for them. She said her husband "didn't give her enough money to pay the bills or take proper care of the animals."


Case Updates

A Lexington woman pleaded no contest Wednesday in Cleveland County District Court to cruelty to animals, and was given a three year deferred sentence.

Lila Beth Taylor, 42, was charged with cruelty to animals, after dog breeders went to her former residence in rural Cleveland County and discovered 19 dogs "malnourished and infested with fleas, ticks and hookworms," according to sheriff's deputies. Several animal carcasses and skeletal remains were found on the property and one of the dogs was buried alive, deputies said.

District Judge Tom Lucas ordered Taylor to abide by the rules and conditions of probation under supervision of the district attorney's office, and to perform 100 hours community service.

Noble resident Karen Cox, who operates Puppy Love Farms, was one of three dog breeders who went to Taylor's residence in the 8500 block of Southeast 149th Street May 24 by request, to pick up dogs not being taken care of. The women contacted the sheriff's department after finding the dogs being kept in "horrible" conditions, Cox said.

According to deputies, animal remains were found in all three pens on the property. Several dogs were kept for more than a year in a 10 foot by 10 foot storage shed with poor ventilation and the floor covered with feces. The bodies of dogs that died were not removed from the shed, and other dogs were allowed to eat their remains, deputies said.

"Our hope was that, through the court system, this lady would get the help she needs for her problems," Cox said. "Instead, the sentence will be off her record after three years, with no counseling or remediation."
Source: The Norman Transcript - Nov 7, 2008
Update posted on Nov 9, 2008 - 7:23PM 

References


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