Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Neglect - three goats found dead, others starved

Neglect - three goats found dead, others starved
Jonesborough, TN (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Jul 26, 2005
County: Washington
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged:
» Bryan Thomas - Convicted
» Michelle L. Thomas - Dismissed

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Case ID: 5176

Classification: Neglect / Abandonment

Animal: goat

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Washington County authorities have found three dead goats among a dozen animals in a pen with no food or water. Senior animal control officer Randy Buchanan says animal neglect charges are pending against Bryan Thomas of rural Jonesborough and will be served as soon as Thomas is found.

Buchanan says the lack of water and shade had a big role in the animals' deaths.

He also said those animals still alive were so starved they would race each other to get to the occasional leaf that fell into the pen.

The National Weather Service recorded a high temperature of 94 in nearby Johnson City.

Buchanan says authorities watered and fed the animals, which were found on the afternoon of July 26.

He says someone moved them overnight, before his office could take custody of them.

Bryan and Michelle Thomas are charged with 12 counts of animal cruelty.

Case Updates

The case of a Jonesborough couple charged with 12 counts of animal abuse was settled January 11, 2006 in sessions court. Judge John L. Kiener accepted the plea-bargain agreement of Michelle Thomas and Brian Thomas, 419 Rambling Road. The Thomases were arrested in July 2005 after authorities found three goats dead and nine others without water or food on a fenced embankment at 218 Booher Road.

Charges against Michelle Thomas were dismissed after she apologized to Washington County Sheriff's Office deputies and a local newspaper for sending threatening e-mails.
Her husband pleaded guilty to the charges. He was fined $150 and sentenced to five days in jail and 11 months and 29 days of supervised probation.

At the time of their arrests, animal control officials said heat and a lack of water may have resulted in the deaths of the three animals. The Thomases told investigators the dead animals had been sick. Shortly after the discovery of the dead goats, the surviving ones were moved from the barren lot, and the couple refused to disclose their location to investigators. But the Thomases told authorities the goats had been sold to two of Brian Thomas' cousins and were now in Sullivan County.

Source: Kingsport Times News - January 12, 2006
Update posted on Jan 11, 2006 - 9:23PM

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References

	WBIR - July 27, 2005
	TriCities.Com -July 18, 2005

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Neglect - three goats found dead, others starvedJonesborough, TN (US)

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Neglect - three goats found dead, others starved
Jonesborough, TN (US)