Memphis man, Marquel Smith, facing three counts of animal cruelty

TENNESSEE -- A Memphis man is facing three counts animal cruelty after police rescued three dogs from a North Memphis home.

Police said they got a tip and then found two of the dogs in the yard and one inside what appeared to be a vacant house.

 

 

Officers said one of the dogs outside was chained up to a clothesline and the other was inside a large kennel.

They said the dogs weren’t properly sheltered from the cold, and didn’t have any food or water.

They said a third dog, chained up inside the house, was skin and bones and had several scars from possible dog fighting.

 

 People who pass by the dogs every day had no idea they were being mistreated.

“I’m not really an animal lover, but I don’t think you should do a pet like that. If they are your dog you shouldn’t have them fighting or not feeding them,” Joe Jackson said.

 

 

 

 

 

Marquel Smith told police he owned the dogs and agreed to turn them over to the state.

He is charged with of aggravated cruelty to animals and two charges of cruelty to animals.

(WREG - Feb 4, 2015)