‘At least a foot of feces throughout the entire trailer’: 20 dogs rescued in Benton County
BENTON COUNTY, Tenn. — One call to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office resulted in the saving of 20 dogs.
Wednesday afternoon, the Benton County Sheriff’s Department received a call about a man possibly dead in his car.
It was discovered the man was alive. However, after a closer look, there were more than 20 dogs surviving in what investigators called “unlivable conditions.”
“There was at least a foot of feces throughout the entire trailer. The camper was not as bad because it was only two dogs in it, but it was still pretty rough,” said Benton County Animal Control Officer Derek Gannon.
According to Gannon, the Benton County man had several dogs in a trailer, two in a camper, and 11 in his car.
Gannon says that man has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty and neglect.
“Most of them are pretty nice, the rest of them were very mean. There was 11 puppies locked in the trunk of the car and one of the investigators actually had to crawl through the car to get through the trunk because the trunk wouldn’t open,” said Gannon.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Ruby Bentle, one of the individuals arrested, reached out to WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News on August 13 to clarify what she says are misleading numbers. According to Bentle, there were only 5 puppies in the back of the vehicle–not 11. She says that, at the time, it was the safest place they had available for the animals.
Before taking these dogs to the Benton County Animal Shelter, kennels were already filled with 10 dogs. They are now past full capacity.
“We just have to make do with what we have. We started putting dogs in the 10-by-10s outside, in the play yards, just to have space where dogs are not confined,” said Gannon.
Leaders with animal control say when they asked the man why he kept the dogs he said “because they kept breeding.”
“We always would love for people to pick an animal shelter over buying a dog from a breeder. These dogs need the help, loving and care more than a dog that’s coming from a breeder,” said Gannon.
Gannon says they are in need of assistance, such as kennels, dog beds, rescue home, toys, milk bones and more.
“Puppy food, adult food, puppy wet food; even money on our vet bills would be fabulous that’s always a necessity,” said Gannon.
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