Animal cruelty charges filed against two Warrick women who used to run shelter

INDIANA -- Two women who formerly ran an animal rescue organization together now face animal neglect charges in Warrick County.

Formal animal cruelty charges were filed against 34-year-old Amberly Patterson and Terra D. Sanders, 35, on Tuesday. Both face 11 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty charges, according to court documents.

The two operated Bullie Nation Animal Rescue, which was evicted from its building in February, according to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case. After that closure, Sanders took several of the dogs to her Boonville, Indiana, home, investigators wrote in that document.

The investigation into allegations of mistreatment started in April after animal control officer got a complaint against Sanders because a woman — neither of the two people who are charged in the case — turned over two dogs to the Warrick County Humane Society that she said came from Sanders.

Both animals were severely underfed at the time of their surrender, investigators wrote in the affidavit.

Another two dogs were given to Warrick County Animal Control by the Posey County animal group, PC Pound Puppies, that reportedly had come from Sanders four days after the first two dogs were turned into the humane society, according to the affidavit.

Animal control officers and a sheriff’s deputy went to Sanders’ home that day as well. During that search, authorities found a total of five dogs at the residence.

At least three of the dogs were underfed and the other two had eye issues, according to the affidavit. Sanders reportedly told investigators the dogs were underfed because she did not have the money to afford food for all of the animals.

According to the affidavit, Patterson told investigators that she had quit the Bullie Nation Animal Rescue and did not feel she had any responsibility to the rescue dogs.

The affidavit indicated that Patterson used to live in Sanders’ home but moved out earlier this year before the investigation started.

In an interview with investigators, Patterson said when she moved out she left three of her personal dogs at Sanders’ residence. However, investigators noted that one dog she took with her appeared emaciated.

An attorney for Sanders did not return a Friday afternoon call from the Courier & Press asking about the case. There is no attorney listed in court records for Patterson.

(Courier Press - July 31, 2015)