More than 25 emaciated, neglected dogs rescued
Mcshan, AL (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Feb 22, 2011
County: Pickens
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 4 files available
Alleged: Larry J. Prescott
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
Authorities rescued more than 25 emaciated and neglected dogs from a Pickens County man's home late Tuesday night.
A woman who had sold poodles to the man called the Pickens County Sheriff's Office to report the malnourished dogs at his home in McShan, said Humane Society of West Alabama president Jimmie Perry.
Deputies who went to the home found dogs of different breeds that were seriously underweight and neglected. The home was covered in dog feces, Perry said. As many as six dogs were being kept in a crate intended for just one animal. Dozens of chickens and a cardinal were crammed into small animal traps, she said. The chickens and bird were released.
The homeowner was not home at the time and, as of Wednesday afternoon, has not been charged with a crime, Perry said. Several calls to the Pickens County Sheriff's Office were not returned Wednesday. Cruelty to animals is classified as a Class B misdemeanor in Alabama.
The deputies contacted the Humane Society late Tuesday for help rescuing the dogs. Two Great Danes and a schnauzer required immediate treatment from vets at Emergi-Pet at midnight and were transferred to Shaver Animal Hospital in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday morning.
"They were so weak they couldn't even stand up," Perry said.
Nine of the dogs, including poodles, basset hounds, a Maltese, a Shih Tzu and a dachshund, are being cared for by Bonnie Miller, who investigates animal cruelty cases for the Greene County Commission.
One of the dogs being treated in Tuscaloosa, a male Great Dane named Bubba, weighed just 78 pounds. Male Great Danes should weigh around 125, Shaver said.
Sweetheart, a female Great Dane, weighed 44. Female Great Danes should weigh around 100. Maude, the schnauzer, weighs 10 pounds, although such dogs typically weigh around 30 or 40.
"You can look at her face and see how withdrawn she is," Shaver said of Maude. "You can tell that she hasn't had that much attention."
The animals had not been harmed, other than not being fed.
There were no scars or wounds on the dogs examined, Shaver said.
Shaver and his staff spent Wednesday morning giving the animals fluids and checking their general physical conditions. All of the dogs had worms, he said.
The dogs seemed frightened, but had good dispositions. The bones of all the dogs were visible through their coats.
"She's the thinnest Great Dane I've ever seen," Shaver said of Sweetheart.
He said that the dogs will be able to be adopted after they have been treated for several days.
Those wishing to make a donation can do so through the Humane Society's website: Case UpdatesA West Alabama man accused of neglecting at least 15 dogs is behind bars tonight following a police standoff and manhunt. Pickens County Sheriff's deputies rescued the dogs from the home following numerous complaints from neighbors. The man currently living in the home, Larry Prescott, was no where to be found. Police feared Prescott may have moved on to another location where he could be looking for a new house and more dogs to purchase.
Pickens County Sheriff David Abston says this is not the first time Prescott had been in trouble with the law for animal cruelty. Prescott had actually just gotten off probation for a similar crime in 2008 that involved several dead animals in an abandoned animal hospital in Gordo. Abston says he believes Prescott has a pattern of purchasing and starving animals, then moving to another location. He says they don't know a motive for Prescott's actions.
Cynthia Elliott is the actual owner of the home in Ethelsville, where Prescott was living last. Elliott was going to the property to clean the home when she noticed Prescott's truck was in the driveway. Prescott himself was outside in the yard. Elliott called the Sheriff's Department and Prescott disappeared inside his home. Deputies surrounded the home and demanded Prescott come out. Deputies and police sent tear gas grenades into the home, but Prescott still did not appear.
Following a 4 hour standoff, law enforcement finally entered the home and Prescott seemed to have vanished. Authorities searched the woods and other houses surrounding the home. After shinning a flashlight in the crawl space beneath the home, deputies noticed the light reflecting off of Prescott's wrist watch.
Prescott was arrested and placed in the Pickens County Jail on 15 charges of animal cruelty. | Source: cbs42.com - Feb 25, 2011
Update posted on Feb 25, 2011 - 9:34AM |
Pickens County Sheriff's deputies are still looking for a man accused of keeping several malnourished dogs at his home.
Larry J. Prescott, 56, has been convicted of animal cruelty charges in the past. He had been on probation stemming from a 2009 conviction until a few months ago, said Pickens County Sheriff David Abston.
Deputies have warrants to charge Prescott with 15 counts of animal cruelty after finding underfed and neglected dogs at his house in McShan Tuesday night. There were also chickens crammed into small animal traps, along with a cardinal that he had captured.
Abston said Thursday morning that Prescott could be looking for more animals and a place to live.
"He's probably still trying to buy animals. He often will write bad checks to pay for them �" we've had complaints of him writing bad checks within the last week," he said. "He's probably trying to find a place to rent right now."
In 2008, Prescott was charged with 18 counts of animal cruelty after Gordo police found 12 underfed dogs and six dead ones that he was keeping at a vacant veterinarian's office in Gordo.
Court records indicate that he pleaded guilty to those charges but did not serve jail time. He received a suspended 30-day sentence, meaning that he would have to serve that month if he violated his one-year probation.
Anyone with a second conviction can be fined between $500 and $3,000 and up to six months in jail. | Source: tuscaloosanews.com - Feb 24, 2011
Update posted on Feb 24, 2011 - 12:54PM |
References |
