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Case ID: 17529
Classification: Neglect / Abandonment
Animal: dog (pit-bull)
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Child or elder neglect
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Dog found dead, another starving - child neglect
Shively, KY (US)

Incident Date: Saturday, Mar 5, 2011
County: Jefferson

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 2 files available

Alleged:
» Cherri Briscoe
» Germel Peterson

Police say they made a gruesome discovery during their search of Shively home over the weekend.

It happened early Saturday morning. Shortly after 1:00 a.m., Shively Police officers arrived at a home in the 2900 block of Garey Lane near the intersection of Dixie Hwy. and Ralph Ave. to check on the welfare of two children. Police say they had been told by a caller that there was a dead dog in the bathroom, and they were concerned for the health and safety of the kids.

32-year-old Cherri Briscoe -- the children's mother and the owner of the home -- answered the door and allowed the officers to search the residence.

The bathroom door was locked. When the officers were able to get inside, their worse suspicions were realized.

Inside, they found the decomposing corpse of a dog. There was no food or water visible. The dog was lying in feces, which covered the bathroom. The door knob was damaged where the dog had been trying to get out.

Police say Briscoe and 28-year-old Germel Peterson, who was also in the home, told them they knew the dog was there, "but just never got it out."

The corpse in the bathroom wasn't the only animal inside the home, according to an arrest report. Police found another dog in the bedroom, which was covered with feces also. That dog was alive, but police say it was "malnourished, with several ribs showing."

When the officer let the dog out of the bedroom, it ran to the trashcan and began eating trash out of it.

Briscoe and Peterson were charged with cruelty to animals and torture of a dog.

Fox 41's Gil Corsey spoke with Shively Police and saw images of what happened: the claw marks on the bathroom door, the scratches where the dog tried to chew its way out, feces and fur -- and the remains of a pit bull withering away.

The rest of the home was no better. The refrigerator doors were hanging open with mold, bugs and cockroaches could be seen at every turn and another dog eating trash to survive.

"I've seen some pretty bad ones," said Ronnie Vittitoe, adding that this incident "ranks right up there [with] the worst."

The suspects are described as "polite neighbors." We're told they lived at the address for two years, but Renee Alexander -- a neighbor -- says she hasn't seen their dogs for months.

"Oh my," Alexander said. "I couldn't imagine what state of mind was they in. That's awful. That's unhealthy."

The 9-month-old little girl and 9-year-old little boy who were living in the home have since been placed with another family. Child Protective Services is investigating.

Meanwhile the surviving dog, a one-year-old pit bull known only by a number, is being nursed back to health at Metro Animals Services. His ribs stick out from malnutrition, and he's 20 pounds underweight.

"It will take some time," said Jackie Gulbe of Metro Animal Services. "That and some TLC. It's my understanding he's a friendly guy."

At this time, the couple is not being charged with neglect for allowing the kids to live in those conditions. Officers say the children appeared healthy and well fed. They also say the 9-year-old told his grandmother about the conditions at home and that's led to his parents arrest.

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