This tragedy began when the family brought home two adorable little pit bull puppies. For a few short months the puppies lived indoors, though they were barely fed and often yelled at.
By the time they were 10 months old, the brother and sister pair had been exiled to a large wooden shed at the back of the property. Their owners complained that the puppies were chewing on things in the house. Chewing is a normal, natural activity for puppies as they grow in their adult teeth. Since pit bulls have strong jaws, they need tough chew toys, especially as puppies. Simply being a puppy should not condemn a dog to a slow, painful death in heat and starvation.
The shed has no windows and little air. The family gives them food and fresh water about every other day. Sometimes on weekends they go for as long as three or more days without food. When spring came, the imprisoned dogs mated with one another and the female became pregnant.
About two months ago she gave birth to six small puppies. Trying to feed a whole litter of puppies is very difficult when she can barely get enough food to keep herself alive. The poor mother dog is now a walking skeleton. The puppies can often be heard yelping and crying because they are so hungry.
Even as the female was growing pregnant, the family added another tiny pit bull puppy to the family. This poor creature only lasted about two months indoors before she, too, was put outside because of chewing on things in the house. She was tied out in the backyard alone with very little food and water. Her body was found wrapped up in a sheet at the bottom of the front yard.
The police were called the same evening that the body was found and they made no effort whatsoever to investigate and document the situation, even though an enormous new Madison police station was just opened on Myatt Drive.
Nashville Metro Code 8.12.080 states "No person may possess, lodge, or maintain over five companion animals if such a person displays a general disregard for the conditions under which the animals are living, including, but not limited to, failing to provide all of the following to all of the companion animals in his care: adequate food, water, shelter, and care."
The family in Madison is clearly hoarding by this definition as they have ten dogs who are not receiving adequate food and water.
Animal Control was called the next day and they seemed completely disinterested. The AC officer claimed that the dog could have died "of natural causes". There is no natural reason for a six month old puppy to die. Parvo causes bleeding from the mouth and anus and there was no evident blood on the dead puppy. An AC truck finally rolled by two days later, slowed slightly in front of the house and kept on going. In his report, the AC officer claimed he had investigated the situation and found the report to be false since there was no longer a dead dog in the yard.
Since the dead dog was found, the family has brought home two more half-grown pit bull pups and tied them in the backyard. These active pups often become tangled in one another's tethers and are left that way for days at a time.
The city-wide flooding affected this house on Friday morning. It is unknown how many of these neglected dogs survived the floodwaters.
How many dogs will have to die before Metro Animal Control finally takes action? Nashville Animal Control may have lifted the breed ban on adopting pit bulls, however this does no good to pit bulls who die of neglect and never even make it to the shelter. With 28 Animal Control officers on payroll, it should not be difficult to respond within 24 hours to reports of extreme neglect and abuse.
Mayor Karl Dean has been partnering with Metro Nashville Animal Control to implement reforms like a larger volunteer program and adoption options for pit bulls. However, it is unacceptable that Metro AC is still allowing dogs to die of neglect on their watch. If you would like to contact the mayor about this problem, you can email Karl Dean at mayor@nashville.gov.
(Examiner - Aug 11, 2013)
