50 dogs, a parrot and a goat rescued in Sequatchie County

TENNESSEE -- Animal rights workers and the Sequatchie County Sheriff's Department are clearing out a major case of animal hoarding in Dunlap, Tenn. Since about 8 a.m. this morning, more than 60 animals, mostly dogs, have been found at 640 Austin Road.

  

  

  

  

  

 

  

  

 

"We found 32 in the house when we first got here," said Chief Deputy Randall Lockhart. Then, they began searching three other sheds on the property. 

The case has already been in the works for several days, culminating in this morning's raid of the property and arrest of Geoffrey Peterson, Lockhart said.

Humane Society of United States workers from the organization's national headquarters in Maryland are on the ground, as well as workers from the organization's Nashville office.

So far, the team has found more than 50 dogs, eight cats, one goat, and one parrot.

Four of the dogs were found dead, including a puppy found in the freezer.

The team is photographing the animals, assigning them numbers, and placing them in cages to be transported. Initially, the plan was to take the animals to McKamey Animal Shelter in Chattanooga, but it's still unclear whether that facility has the capacity to take all of them.

 

"We did not think it was going think it was going to be as big as it is," said Lockhart.

Peterson, who was arrested for suspected animal cruelty, is in custody the Sequatchie County jail.

(Times Free Press - Dec 19, 2014)