Daleville couple, Terra McBroom and Jeremiah McBroom, faces animal cruelty charges

ALABAMA -- A Daleville couple faces multiple criminal charges after police discovered three malnourished puppies belonging to them.

Daleville Police Chief Harvey Mathis said police arrested Jeremiah J. McBroom, 31, and his wife, Terra B. McBroom, 27, both of South Nancy Street, on Thursday, and charged them each with three counts of cruelty to animals.

Both Jeremiah and Terra McBroom were taken to the Daleville City Jail and held on bail totaling $1,800.

 

Mathis said the animal cruelty investigation started after some of the McBroom neighbors brought three puppies to the Daleville Police Department last Friday, Valentine’s Day. The neighbor told police they had just been given the puppies, and brought them to police because they appeared neglected.

Mathis said they immediately sent an officer over to the home where the dogs came from on Nancy Street.

“When we looked at the kennel where they were kept it was covered with feces and it showed somebody was not properly caring for them,” Mathis said. “The dogs were malnourished and appeared to be dehydrated. They were just listless. Usually puppies are very happy and active but these weren’t.”

The ribs on at least one of the dogs were visible.

Mathis said one puppy, found inside the home, was not seized by police because it appeared to be in good health. But police found the other three sibling puppies outside in the dirty pen.

“What we think is they had one dog they liked and wanted to keep and the others were just sort of thrown outside and ignored,” Mathis said.

Mathis said the mixed breed puppies are all about 9 weeks old.

“They’ve been to a veterinarian and received treatment and all have found new homes,” Mathis said.

Mathis said two dogs went to one home and the third to another home. He said the dogs have already shown significant improvement and started playing like typical puppies.

Mathis also said he recalled previously arresting Jeremiah McBroom. He said McBroom has a prior conviction for endangering the welfare of a child several years ago in connection to neglect of his 9-month-old baby in Daleville. Mathis said McBroom was arrested for that offense with his then wife, Amanda Gunn, who pleaded guilty to her charge in 2009.

(Dothan Eagle - Feb 20, 2014)