Puppy mill - Neglect of 109 Dogs
Bald Knob, AR (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Dec 20, 2002
County: White

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Elmo Yarbrough

A two week investigation ended Thursday with more than 70 dogs being taken from a house in White county. Workers with the Pulaski County Humane Society have been looking into what they call a "puppy mill." Now the owner could face charges. 
 
 Conditions stunned the Deputies and the animal advocates who found them. Kay Jordan of the Pulaski County Humane Society tells News 4 Arkansas, "I'm trying not to cry - I'm trying not to cry. You saw the dog with the paw that's nearly rotted off, dogs with their muzzles all scabbed up and bleeding, water that's green. I think it's very inhumane."

After inspecting the grounds, the owner turned the dogs over to the Humane Society, but wants some of them returned. Here's a conversation News 4 Arkansas had with Elmo Yarbrough, the owner of dogs:

News 4 Arkansas: "There are going to be a lot of people who see this and say it's inhumane."
Elmo: "I know it."
News 4 Arkansas: "What would you say to them?"

Elmo: "Biggest part of it's alright, as far as I'm concerned. I tried. Thought I was doing good."

Their owner says they were bred to be pets and hunting dogs. The goal now: to give them a much different life. "It was a situation that something definitely needed to be done about."

The dogs were taken to the Pulaski County Humane Society for treatment. A veterinarian on the scene says, for the most part, the dogs are okay, but all need to be checked out for injuries and illnesses. The White County Prosecutor tells News 4 Arkansas that he will review the case file and determine if animal cruelty charges should be filed.

The Pulaski County Humane Society suddenly has more than 70 dogs to care for and they are asking for your help. They're in need of cages, pet carriers, and bedding. They're also looking for foster homes and donations to pay for the dog's medical needs.

If you'd like more information, or want to help, call the Humane Society at 501-227-6166. 

References

• News4Arkansas, date Feb 6, 2003, Article: Puppy Mill Bust in White County

« More cases in White County, AR

Not sure what these icons mean? Click here.

Note: Classifications and other fields should not be used to determine what specific charges the suspect is facing or was convicted of - they are for research and statistical purposes only. The case report and subsequent updates outline the specific charges. Charges referenced in the original case report may be modified throughout the course of the investigation or trial, so case updates, when available, should always be considered the most accurate reflection of charges.

For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.