Dogs infested with parasites, resulting in death
Bartlett, TN (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Aug 25, 2010
County: Shelby
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Jesse Eugene Rankins, Jr.
Animal cruelty charges against a Bartlett man accused of neglecting his two German shepherds until they died have been sent to the Shelby County Grand Jury.
Jesse Eugene Rankins Jr., 39, was charged with two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals in connection with the dogs' deaths last month.
A veterinarian, who studied the dogs after their death, said it was the worst case of neglect he had seen in his career.
Rankins was held to the action of the grand jury after he waived his preliminary hearing in Bartlett Municipal Court last Friday.
Rankins was reluctant to discuss the matter Wednesday afternoon, including identifying his attorney.
Asked if he had any comment about the deaths, he replied: "That's what we're trying to find out. (Authorities) came to their own conclusions."
According to documents related to the case, police were called to Rankins' house on Aug. 25 regarding the dead animals.
The two dogs -- about 21/2 years old -- were engorged with ticks, had thousands of fleas and were extremely emaciated .
Dr. Steven Ambrose of Hillcrest Animal Hospital, who studied the dogs after their bodies were taken from Rankins' home, told police it was the worst case of neglect he had seen in his 10-plus years as a veterinarian.
The postmortem study also revealed the dogs were infested with heartworms.
The owner told authorities he took the dogs to another veterinary outlet, not Hillcrest, about eight months ago. But records from that animal hospital showed it had not seen the dogs in more than two years.
Ambrose said neglect contributed to the dogs' deaths. References |
