Dogs neglected, one dead, fighting suspected
Nicholasville, KY (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Sep 29, 2010
County: Jessamine
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 1 files available
Alleged:
» Marty Stevens
» Robert Ellard Cuzick
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
A Jessamine County man faces animal cruelty charges after several animals were found in poor health in what might have been a dogfighting operation, officials said.
Jessamine County Sheriff's Office deputies went to Marty Stevens' home at 1718 Kissing Ridge Road about 4 p.m. Wednesday to serve an arrest warrant charging him with first-degree burglary in Garrard County, Chief Deputy Allen Peel said.
Stevens, 40, was not at the home, but sheriff's deputies contacted Jessamine County Animal Control when they found the animals, Peel said.
"It looked like they were dying and starving and neglected," he said.
Stevens has been charged with ten counts of second-degree animal cruelty, animal control officer Frank Ruggiero said. He said Stevens, who had not been located Thursday afternoon, might face additional charges after the investigation is complete.
One puppy was found dead at the home, Ruggiero said.
He said there were 11 pit bulls, two Chihuahua mixes, three puppies and a Jack Russell terrier in the yard. The animals were taken to the Jessamine County SAVE Center, an animal shelter for dogs and cats in Nicholasville.
The animals were in "very poor condition," Ruggiero said. The pit bulls were at least 15 pounds underweight.
"All the animals were infested with fleas beyond belief," Ruggiero said.
Ruggiero said several items found in the yard -- including a treadmill -- seemed to indicate that there might have been a dogfighting operation there.
"It appeared the dogs were being conditioned for dogfighting purposes," he said.
Case UpdatesA man wanted on animal-cruelty charges involving dogs in Jessamine County was arrested Wednesday night on drug charges in Garrard County.
Marty Stevens, 40, of Jessamine County, was arrested by Garrard County Deputy Sheriff Brandon Conley and charged with trafficking in marijuana, possession of marijuana, tampering with physical evidence and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to records in Garrard District Court.
Stevens is charged in Jessamine County with 10 counts of second-degree animal cruelty, a misdemeanor. The dogs were discovered Sept. 29 when Jessamine deputies went to Stevens' home on Kissing Ridge Road to serve a warrant.
The animals might have been part of a dog-fighting operation, but animal control officers said there was not enough evidence to press felony charges of first-degree animal cruelty.
Stevens remains in the Lincoln County jail, where Garrard County takes its prisoners, in lieu of a $5,000 cash bond. He is scheduled to appear in Garrard District Court on Monday.
The dogs were taken to the Jessamine County SAVE Center, the county-owned animal shelter in Nicholasville. | Source: Herald Leader - Oct. 22, 2010
Update posted on Oct 23, 2010 - 12:43PM |
After almost two weeks of care at the Jessamine County SAVE Center, shelter workers say sixteen dogs, mostly pit bull mixes, are now available for adoption or rescue after investigators found them in a possible dogfighting operation. "They are very sweet with people" says Jenise Smith, "We've been in the kennels with every one of them. We've handled all of them. They've been great. We've not had a bit of problems with them."
Meanwhile, law enforcement officials are working to prosecute the men they say are responsible for abusing the dogs. Animal Control Officer Frank Ruggiero says despite evidence of breeding and conditioning for fighting, it's not enough for the maximum penalty. "However, animal cruelty charges in the second degree were filed against a Marty Stevens and a Robert Ellard Cuzick, who was the alleged caretaker of the animals living at the property" said Ruggiero.
He says those charges were based on the health of the animals, and results from veterinary evaluations will help their case. "That evidence will be included in our case to prove that in a two week time frame the animals have improved in condition."
As for now, experts will test the dogs temperament to best match them with a home. While the animals continue to be evaluated, you can begin submitting applications to adopt them. Contact the Jessamine County SAVE Center at 859-881-0821. Workers at the shelter say in addition to these dogs, they have 70 others available for adoption. | Source: wkyt.com - Oct 11, 2010
Update posted on Oct 21, 2010 - 5:55PM |
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