UPDATE: Authorities confirm woman arrested for aggravated animal cruelty

UPDATE (6/16/25): Authorities confirm that Carol Kent, 73-years-old, has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty and was booked into the Benton County jail on June 11. Records available online indicate she has since bonded out of custody. 

PARIS, Tenn. — A tragic case of alleged animal abuse happened Sunday in one West Tennessee community.

The Benton County Sheriff and Benton County Volunteer Animal Control responded to a call of animal abuse in Big Sandy.

The caller advised dispatch of a German Shepherd that was chained to the back of a truck and dragged down a portion of State Route 69 Alternate.

Benton County Volunteer Animal Control Officer Ronny Christian was able to fill us in on some details concerning the dog’s condition after the incident.

“The condition yesterday afternoon when I left the vet was critical,” Christian said. “The dog had abrasions, road rash some places all the way down to the bone.”

The German Shepherd was taken to the nearest emergency-prepped veterinarian’s office: Mineral Wells Animal Clinic in Paris.

“Unfortunately, due to legal reasons, the doctors here at Mineral Wells Animal Clinic cannot disclose the current condition of the German Shepherd,” said Christian.

The clinic is open to taking donations for this pup’s medical bills. To make a donation, you can call Mineral Wells Animal Clinic directly at (731) 642-5699.

We intend to follow this incident and will provide an update should additional details be confirmed.

For more local news, click here.