Neglect - 15 greyhounds seized, more found dead
Muskogee, OK (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Apr 13, 2004
County: Muskogee
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Delroy Reed
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
The Muskogee County district attorney said Tuesday he is very interested in reviewing information that might lead to the filing of up to 19 felony animal-cruelty charges against 47 year old Delroy Reed.
Deputies seized 15 apparently mistreated greyhounds this week from Reed's residence and have questioned both Reed and his live-in girlfriend about the animals' condition. Deputies also found several dead dogs.
Reed had not been arrested by Tuesday afternoon. He could face as many as 19 cruelty charges, investigators said Tuesday, but will not be taken into custody unless formal charges are filed.
Darrin Smith, chief deputy for the Muskogee County Sheriff's Department, said several of the animals have been diagnosed with mange and all are infested with worms.
Smith said deputies found several animals running loose. The rest were being kept in pens with water but no shelter or food. Additionally, deputies found a barrel with at least one dead animal in it. Another was found dead under a tarp and another was found dead under a carpet.
They also found an area with an indeterminable number of dead puppies. The number is not known because the bodies were so badly decomposed.
As for whether Reed will face charges, Muskogee County District Attorney John David Luton said prosecutors will make that decision after receiving investigation reports from the sheriff's office.
Law officers are looking to let people adopt the dogs after a forfeiture action to take the animals away from Reed is completed in the county's district court.
Case UpdatesA Muskogee man turned himself into authorities Thursday and was charged with 15 counts of cruelty to animals after deputies found 15 greyhounds that allegedly were malnourished and neglected. Delroy Reed, 47, was released Thursday afternoon from the Muskogee County/City Detention Facility on $5,000 bond. Reed also has signed a waiver releasing the dogs.
"He came in yesterday and relinquished his rights to them," said David Pierce, first assistant district attorney. Because Reed relinquished his rights to the animals, the Muskogee County District Attorney's Office agreed not to charge Reed for the charges incurred for the feed, care and upkeep of the dogs as a result of their custody, court documents state.
The dogs were seized Monday by Muskogee County sheriff's deputies at Reed's residence on South 70th Street West and were taken to the Muskogee City Animal Shelter. "The worst of the dogs have red mange and worms," said Deputy Tim Brown. Some are malnourished, and some have damaged paws. "All of them are salvageable," Brown said. And all of the dogs now have new homes.
The Sheriff's Office was inundated with calls from people who wanted to adopt dogs or donate money for their upkeep and veterinary bills. "We got rid of all the dogs yesterday," Brown said. "I want to thank everyone for their response, especially the city animal shelter, Tammie Lee and her crew. They were absolutely wonderful." Four additional dogs also were found on the property but had died. They had not been buried but were found underneath tarps or in a large can. Deceased puppies were found in a black plastic tub.
Reed will be back in Muskogee County District Court at 10 a.m. April 29 for a sounding docket. At that time, a date will be set for a preliminary hearing. | Source: Muskogee Daily Phoenix - April 16, 2004
Update posted on Nov 29, 2005 - 6:10PM |
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