Hoarding - over 40 dogs seized from property
Turtletown, TN (US)Incident Date: Monday, Oct 31, 2005
County: Polk
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Maureen Vieira
Animal rescuers and Sheriff's deputies say the animal abuse at a Turtletown home was the worst they've seen. Property owner Maureen Vieira, 50, was charged with animal cruelty after more than 40 dogs were found.
Karen Wilson, Second Chance Animal Santuary, said several were seriously injured and many were starving. More than a dozen, some tied up, were inside the house, which was coated with several inches of feces. Vieira said most of the animals were strays and she was doing the best she could to feed and protect them. She said she could not get any help.
The worst, Wilson said, was a little dog inside of a tire in a cage. It had no foot on one side and walked on bloody stumps. Wilson said Vieira told her that she didn't know the dog was there. It was taken to Dr. Mitchell, a vet in McCaysville, who said he would doctor it and try to create something for so it could walk. There was another dog whose chain had been wrapped around a post, with no food or water nearby, several in pens, and many loose dogs that were malnourished.
Wilson said there were signs of bread, which Vieira said she was feeding the dogs with.
Wilson praised the Sherrif's Department for always being cooperative. "They are wonderful to work with us, " she said, adding that it is frustrating for the deputies when people call because there are no animal control procedures or facilities. References« TN State Animal Cruelty Map
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