Magistrate Tom Reynolds arraigned Shirley Rhodes on the 45 counts of animal cruelty filed by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department following last week’s seizure of the 136 dogs from her residence and property. In addition, she will likely have to pay $40,000 restitution for the grooming and veterinary care of the seized dogs.
The arraignment came prior to a Monday hearing in Jackson County Magistrate Court on the seizure which Rhodes was contesting.
Both sides of the seizure testified before Reynolds, prior to his ruling that upheld the seizure and kept the dogs in the custody of the Jackson County Animal Shelter. Rhodes has the opportunity to appeal the court ruling.
Animal activists jammed the magistrate courtroom and picketed outside the Jackson County Courthouse Monday in support of the dogs and their seizure by county humane officers and deputy sheriffs from conditions they said were deplorable. Emotions ran high inside and outside the courtroom.
Sheriff Tony Boggs said the case involved the largest number of animals ever seized in his tenure in la enforcement.
Jackson County Humane Officer Sheila Chambers testified that conditions inside the residence where some 70 of the dogs were living were deplorable with animal feces and urine everywhere, and a smell so overpowering that some of the seizure volunteers became ill.
Many of the animals need both veterinary attention and grooming after they were taken into protective custody.
(Jackson County Newspapers - Oct 10, 2014)
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