On Monday, an Orangeburg County magistrate ordered that a Dorchester County man get interim custody of three disputed animals. An appeal was promised.
Magistrate Meree Williamson said she found no new evidence that would give her cause to overturn a May 19 order giving custody of a couple of Jack Russell terriers and a donkey to a Dorchester County man (DAPHNE LUGO's boyfriend).
“The order stands ... giving one Mr. (Marty) Bunch custody of certain pets,” the judge said. “I do not find that the county has shown that Mr. Bunch will neglect these animals.”
Even as supporters of the motion to maintain county custody of three dogs and donkey burst out on emotion, Orangeburg County attorney Lakesha Jeffries informed the court she would file an appeal.
Barring the appeal, the court ordered the animals to be turned over to Bunch within seven days of the close of Monday’s hearing, or by 4 p.m. June 23.
“I’m just trying to help, that’s all I’m trying to do,” Bunch said after the hearing. “The animals will be fine at the house.”
About 35 activists and animal control officers from Atlanta to Myrtle Beach attended the hearing to settle the custody dispute over a couple of dogs and one donkey. The animals were part of a 55-animal seizure in 2013 from a site in Orangeburg County. Officials said the gruesome finds included several dogs’ remains that were liquefied.
As a result of last year’s seizure, Daphne Lugo, 45, was charged with torture/ill treatment of animals. Out on a $30,000 personal recognizance bond, Lugo attended the hearing but did not address the court.
A motion was granted last month that would pull the Jack Russell terriers out of foster care and place them into Bunch’s control until the criminal charges are settled in court.
The county then filed a motion to reconsider, saying there was a stipulation in that previous order that was not observed.
“And that brings us here today,” Williamson said.
Jeffries said in her opening argument that Dorchester County animal control officers had visited Bunch’s Summerville property on multiple occasions.
A witness for Orangeburg County, Dee Dee Barton, said that when visiting Bunch’s property several times in 2010-2011 she observed a cow and a horse that appeared to be “very underweight.”
Bunch himself testified that he owned at least one of the dogs, adding that both he and Lugo obtained the animals about 10 years ago.
Representing Lugo, Mt. Pleasant attorney Brad Jung said their motion was to simply allow Lugo visitation of her animals.
“They essentially want another bite at the apple,” he said. “We’re simply asking that the original order that was placed on record be enforced.”
Jung put Bunch on the stand to ask about his visits from Dorchester County animal authorities to his 12-acre property near Summerville.
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The conditions were ONE HUNDRED times worse than in these pictures. "Six" was one of these dogs. Six of the dogs Daphne Lugo "rescued" were DEAD. Not just a few days dead: starved, then shoved into plastic trash bags and liquefied. Nothing but liquid and bones left of sweet babies that were supposed to be living the good life. The other 53 dogs were severely emaciated and several had to be put to sleep immediately because they were in too much pain to survive....The barn was so stacked with dog food and treats that there was barely room to walk. YES food that was donated and held. Not feed to he starving innocent soUls who sat in darkness everyday waiting for even just a bite of food.... One donkey also had to be sent to rainbow bridge because of the shape she was in. The dogs had been living just like this:with no food, no water, laying in their feces and urine, no beds, and most of them had no sunlight. They were shoved into crates in a dark garage. The rest were in outside kennels living in the same disgusting conditions
(T&D - June 16, 2014)
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