Cockfighting - over 100 birds, animal neglect Dayton, TN (US) Incident Date: Thursday, Sep 8, 2005 County: Rhea Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Alleged: Larry Wayne Olinger

Case ID: 5566 Classification: Fighting, Neglect / Abandonment Animal: dog (non pit-bull), horse, chicken View more cases in TN (US) Login to Watch this Case

Rhea County deputies are searching for a Dayton Mountain man charged with aggravated animal cruelty after they discovered dozens of malnourished animals on his property, apparently left for days without food or water.

Deputy Jamie Gravitte received two complaints on Sept 8 from neighbors about starving animals and excessive noise at the Burke Lane property.

When she arrived at the property, she said she was appalled at what she found.

"Cases involving children and animals get my blood boiling because they have no control over the situation and are pretty much helpless," Gravitte said.

She found two horses wandering around an enclosed pen that looked more like a junkyard than a pasture. Along with the horses she found seven emaciated dogs, six puppies and dozens of hens and game roosters.

The animals looked like they hadn't eaten in days and there was no evidence of any food or water placed out for them.

Gravitte said she found a small pond at the very back of the property, but that the water was covered with algae and looked unfit to drink. In any case, most of the animals were tied up and had no access to the pond.

The owner of the property, Larry Wayne Olinger, was nowhere to be found, according to the deputy.

Gravitte called for Veterinarian Matthew Sachs from Rhea Animal Hospital to come assess the animals' condition. Deputies Wayne Wilkey and Dean Cranfield also arrived to assist.

Most of the game roosters were tied by the leg and were limited to a patch of dirt about six feet across. A few game roosters were housed in cages and appeared to be healthier. Dayton Animal Control Officer Richard Neal, who was called in to assist with the animals, said the roosters in cages were being readied to fight.

One brindled hound with a badly broken front leg and ribs showing was running around the pen on three legs, trailing his rope, trying to catch one of the hens running loose. Officers discovered the partially consumed carcasses of several chickens in the pen and surmised that the dogs hadn't gone completely without food.

The horses, a 5-year-old paint and a 7-year-old saddle horse, were "kind of poor," Sachs said. "They're losing weight and apparently haven't had anything to eat for days. We're going to have to get them some help."

The officers searched the property for food for the animals but only found a single bag of chicken feed.

Gravitte contacted Rhea County General Sessions Court Judge Jim McKenzie who issued an order allowing Gravitte to remove the animals from the property.

With Neal's help, Gravitte removed the two horses, four dogs and six puppies. They left behind three dogs because they couldn't catch them and all the chickens because they had no place to house them. Gravitte scattered feed for the chickens before she left. The dog with the broken leg was taken to Rhea Animal Hospital to have its broken leg set in a cast.

On Sept 9, Gravitte took out a warrant against Olinger for aggravated animal cruelty, a Class E felony. Other charges are pending against Olinger, according to Gravitte.

Olinger will appear in a Rhea County Courtroom in October 12th to face the charge.

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References

	Rhea County Online - Sept 11, 2005
	News Channel 9 - Sept 14, 2005
	Herald-News - Sept 13, 2005

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