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Case ID: 15620
Classification: Neglect / Abandonment
Animal: dog (pit-bull)
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Case #15620 Rating: 3.0 out of 5



Emaciated, chained dogs rescued, 1 dead
Starkville, MS (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Jun 18, 2009
County: Oktibbeha

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Wheeler Crawford

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Eight pit bull terriers found emaciated and malnourished by Starkville animal control officers last week have made tremendous progress in getting healthy and seen and outpouring of support from the community.

The dogs were found abandoned at a Starkville area home on June 18 after animal control officers Rich McKee and Sarah Hankins responded to a call from a concerned citizen.

The dogs were all chained and had gone without food or water for several weeks, each weighing about half the weight that a healthy pit bull would weigh, McKee and Hankins said. A ninth dog was found to have died. Once news of the neglect the dogs had suffered was made public, an outpouring of support came forth, McKee and Hankins said.

"We are happy to report that all eight dogs have gained several pounds since we rescued them and are getting their strength back," said Hankins. "All eight dogs have also been adopted", four locally and another four by an animal rescue league in Lafayette, La."

The dogs have all grown increasingly playful and more affectionate as their conditions have improved, Hankins said.

"They definitely have a lot more energy and are as loving as ever. They're not aggressive at all," Hankins said.
The news of the dogs' neglect also received nationwide response, McKee said.

"We had people from Arkansas, Utah and all over the country calling wanting to know how the dogs were doing," McKee said. "The word has definitely gotten around. It's even on Facebook on the Internet."

The dogs' plight also resulted in multiple donations to the Oktibbeha County Humane Society, which operates the Starkville Animal Shelter through a contractual agreement with the City of Starkville.

"They had a couple of people, for example, who came in and handed them donations for $100 each," McKee said.

McKee and Hankins have since received invitations to speak to local church and civic groups about animal control issues and the problem of animal neglect.

"Some good has come out of this. It has definitely raised awareness about animal neglect in our community and about the importance of reporting problems," said McKee. "We depend on the public to help us. These dogs would not still be alive if someone hadn't cared enough to call us."

In the meantime, McKee and Hankins hope to conclude the investigation into the dogs' neglect by mid-week. Because of the ongoing probe, the two said they cannot yet release information about the suspect or the location of the home where the dogs were found.

That information will be made public when an arrest is made. Any suspects will be facing up to nine charges of animal cruelty, which carries penalties of up to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000 per charge under state law.

McKee works from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, and Hankins works from noon to 8 p.m. weekdays. Both are on call on alternating weekends and during the evening hours on weekdays.

The two can be reached by calling the Police Department at 323-4131.


Case Updates

A man charged with nine counts of animal cruelty in connection with last month's discovery of eight malnourished pit bull terriers and one dead dog at a Clayton Village area home is going to spend 60 days in jail.

Wheeler Crawford, 44, was found guilty of three of the nine counts of animal cruelty in an Oktibbeha County Justice Court hearing and was sentenced by Judge Jim Mills to serve 60 days in the Oktibbeha County Jail for each of the three charges, but the three terms will be served concurrently.

Mills also ordered Crawford to pay a combined total of $676.50 in fines and court costs.

State law allows penalties of up to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000 for an animal cruelty charge.

The charges against Crawford stem from the discovery of eight emaciated, malnourished pit bulls by Starkville animal control officers Rich McKee and Sarah Hankins at Crawford's former home at 1429 Boyd Road in the Clayton Village area on June 18. McKee and Hankins went to the home after receiving a call from a concerned citizen.

The dogs were all chained and had gone without food or water for several weeks, each weighing about half the weight that a healthy pit bull would weigh, the animal control officers said. A ninth dog was found dead on the premises.

Crawford was arrested two days later at a relative's home on Josie Allen Road.

The dogs were taken to the Starkville Animal Shelter and cared for by the Oktibbeha County Humane Society until they were healthy. Homes for the dogs have been found locally and in Louisiana and Arkansas, said Hankins and McKee earlier this week.

Both expressed disappointment in the outcome of the case, primarily since the animal cruelty charges were not felony offenses since state law does not classify the offense as a felony.

However, the awareness raised by the case has had a positive impact, said Hankins.

"It went public and the animals were saved, and that's a good thing," Hankins said.

McKee and Hankins said they have recently made aware of an effort by the Mississippi Coalition Against Animal Cruelty in circulating a statewide petition to have the state Legislature pass a bill making animal cruelty a felony offense.

The group is seeking to generate 240,000 signatures on the petition.

Mississippi is one of four states where animal cruelty is not a felony offense.

Copies of the petition are available for signing at the Animal Shelter on Industrial Park Road and at the Starkville Daily News offices on Lampkin Street.

The petition may also be signed online by visiting the Web site at http://www.ms-fact.org.

An information table where the petition can be signed will be set up at the Starkville Community Market on Lafayette Street from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday.
Source: Starkville Daily News - Jul 30, 2009
Update posted on Jul 30, 2009 - 6:59PM 

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