Case Details

Dog starved to death, infested with parasites
Tullahoma, TN (US)

Incident Date: Saturday, Jan 31, 2004
County: Coffee
Local Map: available
Disposition: Failed to Appear

Person of Interest: Dennis Ray Price

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Case ID: 2064
Classification: Neglect / Abandonment
Animal: dog (non pit-bull)
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Dennis Ray Price, the man accused of allegedly starving a dog to death last month, kept witnesses, a Humane Society investigator and Judge Chuck Crawford waiting for the third time when he didn't show up in court for his hearing Monday.

Price's male boxer, who should have weighed between 65-70 pounds, weighed 34 pounds at the time of his death, minutes after he was rescued.

The parasite-ridden dog appeared to have been chained to the back of a van without food, water or shelter for a month or more, according to Dr. Mike Farrar.

Case Updates

A Flintville man faces animal cruelty charges stemming from the alleged starvation of a dog chained to a van. Dennis Ray Price, 34, of Brighton Road, admitted to being the owner of an emaciated male boxer that died on Dr. Mike Farrar's examining table just moments after animal shelter workers rushed the animal to the veterinarian for care.

"It had been laying on the ground unconscious, barely breathing, foaming at the mouth and was covered with mange," said Martha Richards, Humane Society member and Fayetteville Animal Shelter worker. "We put him in the front seat and turned the heat on high - He was so cold," said Richards.

Moments after they arrived at Farrar's office, the dog's heart began beating erratically, and he died, officials said. "It had been a long time since he had eaten, at least one to two months to lose that much body fat," said Farrar.

The dog weighed less than 34 pounds, about half of what he should have weighed based on the size of his skeleton, the veterinarian said. With no food to produce body heat, no doghouse, a sparse coat due to the mange and heavy load of internal parasites, the dog had no defense against the cold.

An anonymous tip had led shelter workers to the dog, but it was a day or two late.

"If citizens would call before it's too late ... it's the only way the Humane Society can rescue the animals," Richards explained.

To report animal abuse, call the Animal Shelter at (931) 433-3726
Source: The Tullahoma News - Feb 2004
Update posted on Feb 19, 2007 - 7:06PM 

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References

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