DeLaney left the eight mixed breed dogs, including three puppies, in a structure at the home she had rented on Waldens Creek Road after she moved to Kentucky. Authorities found them after a neighbor called dispatchers and said it appeared the animals had been abandoned.
“I didn’t see any food or water present anywhere,” said Phil King, animal control officer for Sevier County.
They charged DeLaney Monday with eight counts of cruelty to animals.
DeLaney voluntarily gave up custody of five of the dogs, but is still asking to get two back, King said. A judge will have to decide if she can regain custody; at the least she would likely be expected to repay the Sevier County Humane Society for its expenses in caring for the dogs, he said.
Meanwhile, all the dogs are responding well to treatment, according to Jayne Vaughn, executive director of the Sevier County Humane Society.
Three of the dogs are puppies; sadly their mother was the dog that died before authorities learned they’d been abandoned.
“We’re so pleased with how they are doing,” Vaughn said. “The mother did a real good job taking care of the puppies in the circumstances they were left in.
“We named her Mother Teresa because we think she was a saint.”
All of the dogs are recovering, but it will be at least sometime next week before they’re ready to adopt. The shelter normally keeps animals for a couple of weeks before people can adopt them, so they can give them two rounds of vaccinations and try to make sure the animals don’t have any medical problems that weren’t immediately apparent.
In this case, it also gives the dogs more of a chance to be around people and regain their health. “We’re still letting them recover from the situation, but they’re doing good,” Vaughn said.
There have been a number of animal cruelty cases in the county in recent months, including several involving animal hoarders.
Overall, they’ve taken in more than 1,500 so far this year, she said.
UPDATE:
Kentucky woman charged with animal cruelty
A Kentucky woman faces eight counts of cruelty to an animal after a number dogs were found abandoned at a home she had rented on Waldens Creek Road, according to Sevier County Sheriff Ron Seals.
The sheriff in a news release identified the woman as Susan R. Delaney, 45, of Oak Grove, KY.
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| Take a look at what true evil is |
According to Seals, the Sheriff's Office's Animal Control Unit was alerted Friday about several abandoned dogs at a home at 2029 Waldens Creek Road.
Animal control officers arrived at the rental home and found a deceased dog and seven other dogs locked in a hot garage with no food or water.
Delaney had moved back to Kentucky and simply left the dogs locked inside the garage, according to Seals.
The animals were taken to the Sevier County Humane Society animal shelter.
Delaney was arrested Monday, booked into Sevier County Jail and was bonded out. She faces a June 15 hearing in Sevier County General Sessions Court.
(Knoxville News Sentinel - May 24, 2011)
