52 animals rescued from horrible living conditions at two separate properties in West TN
PRESS RELEASE FROM ANIMAL RESCUE CORPS (ARC)
Contact: Michael Cunningham, PIO
For Immediate Release: 05/18/24
52 ANIMALS RESCUED FROM HORRIBLE LIVING CONDITIONS FROM TWO SEPARATE PROPERTIES IN WEST TENNESSEE
West Tenn. – Animal Rescue Corps (ARC) assisted two separate law enforcement agencies that asked to remain unnamed until their investigations are completed, in the rescue of 52 animals (30 dogs and 22 cats) from two unrelated properties after the animals were discovered living in deplorable conditions.
Starting early Thursday morning, ARC arrived at the first of two properties where 17 dogs, including dachshunds, shih tzus, and doodle/poodle mixes used for breeding, were found living in small and filthy wire cages, in plastic travel crates, and inside a small shed. No food or water was present in any of the cages. Many of the dogs were suffering from various medical conditions including high ammonia exposure, severe matting, overgrown nails skin inflammation and infections, ear and eye infections, and internal and external parasites resulting in flea anemia and dermatitis. Some were underweight and some were suffering from untreated dental disease.
“Our team faced two heart-wrenching scenes of animal suffering and neglect,” said ARC Executive Director, Tim Woodward. “These back-to-back cases of backyard breeding and hoarding each underscore a dire need for immediate intervention and compassion. Each animal we’ve rescued is a testament to resilience in the face of extreme adversity.”
On the second West Tennessee property, 13 large dogs and 22 cats were found living in the shell of a trailer held together with scrap wood and broken pallets and filled nearly to the ceiling in some rooms with trash, and feces. Dogs were also found chained outdoors, one was confined in a rusty makeshift pen, and several were running loose on the trash-strewn property. Uninsulated live electrical wires, broken glass, and sharp rusty metal were scattered amongst the heaps of trash. The flea- and tick-covered dogs are suffering from numerous health issues related to animal neglect, including internal and external parasites, overgrown nails, skin infections, eye infections, and all were extremely dirty.
The cats were confined inside the trailer. Most were wearing tight hand-crafted harnesses that had embedded into the skin on their backs and caused deep skin infections — the harnesses needed to be cut off the cats. Others, including kittens just a few weeks old, were trapped in plastic carriers inside the trailer. All of the adult cats suffered from tapeworms, fleas, and ear infections, and two of the cats were diagnosed with the worst case of feline eosinophilic granuloma complex (EGC), an allergy-related skin condition which causes rodent ulcers on the upper lip, that ARC veterinarians have ever seen.
ARC transported all the dogs and cats from Thursday’s rescues, dubbed Operation Double Trouble, to ARC’s Rescue Center in Gallatin, Tenn., about 30 minutes east of Nashville. Each animal is receiving medical, physical, and social care, including a thorough veterinary exam, appropriate vaccinations, and necessary medical treatments. Once ARC completes all the documentation and necessary medical treatments, each animal will be matched and transported to trusted shelter and rescue partner organizations that will ultimately adopt them into loving homes. ARC will publish its list of shelter and rescue placement partners on its Facebook page once the animals are transferred to these groups.
Funds and volunteers are needed to help provide urgent medical, physical, and emotional care for these animals and other animals in need.
To donate or volunteer to help these and other animals in need, visit animalrescuecorps.org.
