Two dozen dogs and horses neglected, some dead
Jarvis, KY (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Sep 10, 2008
County: Knox
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» Earl Enlow
» Melanie Rogers
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Animal control officials in Knox County say they are investigating one of the worst cases of animal neglect they've seen.
They say they found about two dozen dogs and horses in bad shape, some of them dead. Now two people face charges.
The Knox County Animal Control officer made the arrests Wednesday, but it was Thursday before animal control officials got their first look at the situation.
Knox County Animal Control officials see just about everything, but this scene was almost more than they could believe.
"This is probably one of the worst I've seen since I've been an animal control officer," said Carl Bolton.
They not only found dogs and horses in bad shape, they also found animal remains on the property in the Jarvis community of Knox County.
"I couldn't imagine how any normal person could lay down at night and smell this and listen to these animals. It's disgusting, it infuriates me," said Amy Young with the Knox Whitley Animal Shelter.
24 year old Earl Enlow and 22 year old Melanie Rogers together face a total of 17 charges of cruelty to animals. The couple lived in a trailer on the property. Officials say not only were the animals neglected, but many of them were tied up and couldn't get away.
"Some of the carcasses had choke collars, chains, and the remains of the horse still had a halter on it," Bolton said.
They suspect the couple took in more animals than they could handle.
"Don't take on more than you can handle, because it spirals out of control, and you end up hurting them worse than helping," Bolton said.
They say people should take stray animals to shelters, because even if they end up having to put them down.
"There are worse things than death, and this right here, is worse than death," Young said.
The Knox Whitley Animal Shelter is taking in the dogs and has found homes for the horses. The couple charged in the investigation pleaded not guilty and are out of jail on bond. They are due back in court Tuesday.
Case UpdatesThe Knox County couple charged in September with multiple counts of animal cruelty after officials found numerous dead and malnourished animals on their property were indicted Friday by a grand jury in Knox County Circuit Court.
Earl Enlow, 24, and Melanie Rogers, 22, were indicted on 16 counts charging them with animal cruelty and torture. The pair faces one count of torture of a dog with serious physical injury or death for subjecting a dog to extreme physical pain resulting in its death, five counts of second-degree cruelty to animals for intentionally neglecting horses, and 10 counts of torture of a dog or cat for intentionally subjecting dogs in their custody to extreme physical pain.
In September 2008, the Knox County Sheriff's Department responded to a complaint of malnourished horses at the Jarvis-area residence of Enlow and Rogers. Officials found at least one horse, rabbit, cat, five dogs and three roosters dead on the property. While the cat had been buried, the other animals had been left to decompose throughout the yard. Officials from the Knox-Whitley Animal Shelter also seized 13 living dogs and six horses, several of which were malnourished.
Last year, state legislation was changed to make animal cruelty a felony in the state of Kentucky. | Source: The Times Tribune - Jan 26, 2009
Update posted on Jan 26, 2009 - 1:04PM |
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