Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Puppy mill - 32 dogs seized, dead birds found

Puppy mill - 32 dogs seized, dead birds found
Bethel Springs, TN (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Jun 6, 2006
County: McNairy
Local Map: available
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 3 files available

Abuser/Suspect: Melvin Russom

Case Updates: 5 update(s) available

Case ID: 8874

Classification: Neglect / Abandonment

Animal: dog (non pit-bull), chicken, bird (other farmed)

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The McNairy County Humane Society has seized 32 dogs from what officials describe as a "puppy mill."

The society is pleading for public help to take in the dogs because it has no place to put them. The group's facility was shut down in December because of zoning regulations. The shelter had been set to move to 21 acres donated by the McNairy County Commission, but the plan fell through when issues over access to the site couldn't be resolved.

The animals -- of several breeds -- were seized at a Bethel Springs home. Sheriff's officials say the owner, Melvin Russom, was arrested on animal cruelty charges.

Humane Society investigator Debbie Nowicki says the dogs were confined in filthy cages and their fur was caked with dried feces. One had to be euthanized.

Chief Deputy A.C. Felker besides the dogs, there were chicken and duck carcasses lying around the property

Case Updates

Hardin County Judge Danny Smith on Thursday ordered Bethel Springs puppy breeder Melvin Russom to pay more than $7,000 in restitution to the McNairy County Humane Society. Russom, 75, also was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to surrender all his animals in a ruling in General Sessions Court at the McNairy County Justice Complex in Selmer.

He was convicted on five counts of animal cruelty. The convictions carry a sentence of 11 months, 29 days in jail per charge.

Russom must pay $50 per charge to the court, said Debbie Nowicki, investigator with the McNairy County Humane Society.
"He (Russom) is not allowed to own companion animals or poultry for the next five years," said Nowicki, who testified on Thursday. He has six weeks to find homes or sell the animals and poultry he has, she said.

"I am thrilled. The pictures (of the dogs seized) spoke 1,000 words. Judge Danny Smith did a wonderful job," Nowicki said. The trial took about two hours Thursday.

When asked about the ruling Thursday, Russom said he does not know how he will pay his costs for the trial, which he estimated to be closer to $10,000, including fines and other costs.

"I think I got railroaded," Russom said. "The judge didn't pay no attention to me and my witnesses. I can't pay no $10,000. I don't draw but $600 a month in Social Security."

The McNairy County Humane Society seized 32 dogs from Russom's puppy farm on June 6.

In an interview with The Jackson Sun after the dogs were taken, Nowicki described the scene at the farm as "horrifying."

The dogs, Nowicki said, "were living in cages that had four or five inches of dried feces." She also reported most of the dogs' hair was so heavily matted that "you couldn't even tell what gender they were."

Now, all of Russom's animals are available for adoption, Nowicki said.

Russom said he plans to meet with his attorney, Chad Hunt of Savannah, next week. He is considering appealing the case, he said.

Russom had acknowledged in an interview this summer that he was behind in the dogs' grooming schedules, but he didn't acknowledge any other wrongdoing.

Russom said he believes the McNairy County Humane Society is using his case to generate publicity and raise money.

"They was just after money," he said.

Source: Jackson Sun - Dec 15, 2006
Update posted on Dec 15, 2006 - 5:16PM

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The trial of a Bethel Springs puppy breeder accused of more than 30 animal cruelty charges has been postponed with no new date set.

The case against Melvin Russom was initially set to go to trial Wednesday in McNairy County Circuit Court. A new date has not been set, said Ronnie Brooks, a clerk for the court, in announcing the postponement.

Russom, a puppy breeder in Bethel Springs, was charged in June when the McNairy County Humane Society removed 32 dogs from his farm.

Source: Jackson Sun - Nov 2, 2006
Update posted on Nov 2, 2006 - 12:44PM

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Bethel Springs puppy breeder Melvin Russom, who faces more than 30 counts of animal cruelty charges, is scheduled to go to trial at 1:30 p.m. today, according to McNairy County Humane Society officials.

The McNairy County Humane Society seized 32 dogs from Russom's puppy farm on June 6.

Russom, 74, will appear before Judge Danny Smith of Hardin County at the Justice Complex in Selmer, said Debbie Nowicki, investigator with the McNairy County Humane Society.

In an interview with The Jackson Sun after the dogs were taken, Nowicki described the scene as "horrifying." The dogs, Nowicki said, "were living in cages that had four or five inches of dried feces." She also reported most of the dogs' hair was so heavily matted that "you couldn't even tell what gender they were."

Russom has acknowledged he was behind in the dogs' grooming schedules. "Some of them needed their hair cut," he said in an interview this summer, but he didn't acknowledge any other wrongdoing. "My helper had been sick for a week and a half, but he had not let them go hungry," said Russom, who uses a wheelchair and said he wasn't able to care for the dogs by himself. He has been breeding dogs for 20 years and selling them at flea markets.

Humane Society officials said Russom's dogs are still in their care while the case is in the courts.

Source: Jackson Sun -Sept 28, 2006
Update posted on Sep 28, 2006 - 11:49AM

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After an investigation Tuesday by the McNairy County Sheriff's Department, Melvin Russom, owner of the puppy farm, was arrested on charges of cruelty to animals, Chief Deputy A.C. Felker said. Felker and Deputy Sheriff Kim Hurley assisted in the arrest of Russom. Felker said Russom faces more than 30 counts of animal cruelty, though he didn't know the exact number.
Cruelty to animals is a misdemeanor, Felker said, adding that if found guilty, "you could face up to 11 months, 29 days per offense."

Russom's first court appearance will be at 9 a.m. June 22 in the Justice Complex in Selmer. Russom might face additional charges for not having the animals properly vaccinated for rabies, Felker said.

In addition to more than 30 dogs and one cat at the property, "there were chicken and duck carcases lying around," Felker said.

"They were in very small cages," he said of the way the dogs were found. "Some were four or five feet off the ground."

Source: Jackon Sun - June 6, 2006
Update posted on Jun 15, 2006 - 12:59PM

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In response to a call to help 32 dogs seized Tuesday from a Bethel Springs puppy farm, the general manager of Old Hickory Mall in Jackson has offered to turn the mall's customer service center into a central donation drop-off site.

The McNairy County Humane Society has requested money to help with veterinary care and donated items such as bowls, collars, leashes and crates for the animals taken from Melvin Russom's property at 114 Russom Road in Bethel Springs. Russom was arrested and charged with cruelty to animals. Russom, who has not been jailed, is awaiting his first court appearance, at 9 a.m. June 22 in the Justice Complex in Selmer.

The community can drop off donations for the animals at the customer service center in the Belk wing of the mall, said mall general manager Tommy White. Mall hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 664-5319.

Source: Jackson Sun - June 9, 2006
Update posted on Jun 14, 2006 - 12:50AM

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Puppy mill - 32 dogs seized, dead birds foundBethel Springs, TN (US)

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Puppy mill - 32 dogs seized, dead birds found
Bethel Springs, TN (US)