The charges were filed against Patricia Jackson of Highway 31 and her husband, David Jackson Aug. 28 after Sumner County Sheriff Office officials were notified by Animal Rescue Corps of a potential abuse and puppy mill situation at the Sumner County home.
Both husband and wife were given 11 months, 29 days probation, with court costs and fines. Patricia Jackson is not allowed to have any type of pet for five years. David Jackson was allowed to take back one of the 27 dogs seized – a seven-year-old Shih Tzu, who was ordered to be spayed before returning home. He cannot have any other pets in the next five years.
According to Sgt. Sean Ryan, who oversees the county’s animal control, the Yorkies and Shih Tzus seized by sheriff’s deputies were living in deplorable conditions.
“The dogs overall were in various stages of some kind of skin issue, some with open sores,” Ryan said after the initial raid. “They also had no vet records on any of the animals and had not had any vaccinations as far as we could prove.”
Three of the dogs were in such bad shape, they had to be euthanized. Ryan said it appeared the situation at the home had been recently exacerbated by Patricia Jackson’s poor health.
All of the other dogs seized have either been adopted or placed with local rescue groups, Ryan said.
The suspended sentence could turn into jail time if the couple violates the terms of their probation.
(The Tennesseean - Oct 18, 2012)
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