Accused attorney, Jeff Bowers, who locked NINE large dogs in a locked trailer to cook to death, calls dogs' deaths 'horrible loss'

ILLINOIS -- A Georgia attorney charged in connection with the deaths of his four dogs is calling the incident a “horrible loss” and denies he left his dogs in a trailer without water and ventilation.

Attorney Jeff Bowers issued a statement Friday evening to FOX 5 after he turned himself in Thursday morning on a count of cruelty to animals.

 

In the statement, Bowers said, “Last Saturday evening I brought our dogs from our family farm to our property in Dallas to stay temporarily overnight in a secure trailer.  Contrary to some media reports, the trailer had water and ventilation.  I returned the next day to move our dogs from the trailer. 
Despite our best efforts, we were unable to save four of our dogs.”

Bowers goes on to say, “This tragedy has affected my family and me greatly.  I have fully cooperated with Paulding County authorities, and wanted to express my thanks for your continued support and prayers.” 

 

 

 The real estate lawyer is accused of leaving his nine Great Pyrenees dogs crammed in a trailer with no window or water for about 17 hours.

 Deputies said when Bowers returned Sunday, a neighbor called 911.

 "A resident said a man was pulling dead dogs from an enclosed trailer," Corporal Ashley Henson told FOX 5's Aungelique Proctor.

  

  

 

Deputies said three of the dogs were dead on the scene.  That revelation led to a criminal investigation. They said the others were critical and were rushed to a local veterinarian.

A fourth dog died at the vet's office.

"The dogs were inside the trailer from Saturday evening until Sunday afternoon. As you can imagine it was pretty warm on those days, so it was a pretty bad situation for those dogs," Corporal Henson said.

 

 

 Bowers still has ownership of the 5 surviving dogs.

"Until we get some type of order from a judge indicating that we need to take those dogs from Mr. Bowers, then they will remain in his possession," Henson explained.

Neighbors, who didn't want to talk on-camera, said the misdemeanor charge is a slap on the wrist for the well connected attorney.

(MyFoxChicago - May 25, 2015)