Hunting dog neglect
Ravenel, SC (US)Incident Date: Monday, Jul 21, 2008
County: Charleston
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Carl Gadsden
Investigators say if the hounds could talk, they would have quite a story to tell. 19 deer hunting dogs are being held at the Charleston Animal Society.
They were taken from their owner last Monday. 56 year old Carl Gadsden was ordered to court Friday morning. Gadsden was hit with 19 counts of Ill Treatment To Animals.
"These dogs are not bad like that," Gadsden told the judge. "I don't know what he's talking about. My dogs are in good shape."
But the deputy investigating the case told a different story. "The pens were covered with diarrhea, and old moldy bread and the water was filthy," Charleston County Deputy Stan Singer said.
"They were underfed, had horrible parasites and were literally neglected for a long period of time," Kay Hyman of the Charleston Animal Society said. "Relying on a human being to care for them and to have them in those kind of conditions, is really horrible," Hyman added.
Gadsden was also charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly interfering with Deputy Singer during his animal neglect investigation. That prompted a strong warning from the judge.
"We can't afford to have you injure him, we can't, and your reaction and your acting out. Singer is a decent gentleman," Magistrate Mary Holmes said.
The judge also said she can't afford to allow Gadsden to get his hunting dogs returned to him.
"I'd like to get 'em back if I could," Gadsden asked the judge. "You're not gonna get 'em back," she said.
Judge Holmes ordered Carl Gadsden to pay the Charleston Animal Society $1,580 to cover the dogs medical bills. She also hit him with a fine of more than $4,000 for the animal neglect charges. References |
