Atwood, TN – Animal Rescue Corps (ARC) assisted the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office today in the rescue of approximately 150 animals of various species, found living in extremely neglectful conditions on a property in Atwood, about two hours west of Nashville. All of the animals were seized by the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.
Approximately 43 large and medium breed dogs, including puppies, 37 cats, including litters of newborn kittens, 17 rabbits, 10 geese, eight chickens, six ducks, six goats, five sheep, five chinchillas, four ferrets, and two alpacas were found without adequate food or water. Several dead animals were found around the property including a zebra, a cat, a duck, and the remains of rabbits. There were live animals and dead animals in the same cage. Animals were found running loose and in cages around the property, inside a barn, and in the property owner’s house and garage. The animals were all extremely dirty and suffering from heavy infestations of internal and external parasites, broken bones, extreme matting, eye and ear infections, and respiratory issues caused by the extremely high ammonia levels inside the house and garage which was among the highest ARC has ever recorded. Many of the animals were suffering from malnutrition and no food for the animals was found on the property.
“This is extreme animal cruelty,” said ARC President Scotlund Haisley. “I have never experienced ammonia levels this high. These animals were not living here; they were dying here. The operators of this mass breeding mill chose greed over compassion.”
The planning for this rescue began when ARC received a tip from a concerned citizen and reached out to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department. Upon serving a search warrant, they found several cruelty code violations and immediately engaged ARC for assistance with removing and documenting the animals.
“This county takes all cases of abuse and cruelty very seriously,” said Carroll County Sheriff, Andy Dickson, “The law was being violated and these animals desperately needed help, so we didn’t hesitate to take action.”
ARC is documenting the property and the animals and is safely transporting them to their Rescue Operations Center in Lebanon TN. This rescue, dubbed Operation Noah’s Ark is ARC’s third rescue operation in the past two months in Tennessee and Louisiana. Each animal will receive a thorough veterinary exam, appropriate vaccinations, and any necessary medical treatment. ARC will provide daily care until legal custody of the animals is determined and the animals can be placed with shelter and rescue organizations that will ultimately adopt them into loving homes. Redemption Road Rescue assisted and will be caring for and placing all of the farm animals and fowl. For people wishing to foster or adopt, ARC will publish its list of shelter and rescue placement partners on its Facebook page once the animals are transferred to these groups.
Animal Rescue Corps performed Operation Noah’s Ark in conjunction with the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, and Redemption Road Rescue, who provided equine care and transport.
For more information about Animal Rescue Corps, please visit www.animalrescuecorps.org.
Photos by Randy/Joann Long.
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