Man Faces Animal Cruelty Charges; Another Sentenced
TheElkValleyTimes.com, Tennessee
February 3, 2004-- A Flintville man faces animal cruelty charges
stemming from the alleged starvation of a dog chained to a van, while
another man has been sentenced to nine months in a separate animal
starvation case. Dennis Ray Price, 34, of Brighton Road, admitted to being
the owner of an emaciated male boxer that died on Dr. Mike Farrar's
examining table just moments after animal shelter workers rushed the animal
to the veterinarian for care late Tuesday afternoon.
"It had been laying on the ground unconscious, barely breathing, foaming at
the mouth and was covered with mange," said Martha Richards, Humane Society
member and Fayetteville Animal Shelter worker. "We put him in the front seat
and turned the heat on high - He was so cold," said Richards.
Moments after they arrived at Farrar's office, the dog's heart began beating
erratically, and he died, officials said. "It had been a long time since he
had eaten, at least one to two months to lose that much body fat," said
Farrar.
The dog weighed less than 34 pounds, about half of what he should have
weighed based on the size of his skeleton, the veterinarian said. With no
food to produce body heat, no doghouse, a sparse coat due to the mange and
heavy load of internal parasites, the dog had no defense against the cold.
An anonymous tip had led shelter workers to the dog, but it was a day or two
late. "If citizens would call before it's too late ... it's the only way the
Humane Society can rescue the animals," Richards explained.
To report animal abuse, call the Animal Shelter at 433-3726. Unwanted
animals may be dropped off with no charge to the owner at 1718 Pulaski
Highway. Shelter hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. until 4
p.m.; Monday from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m.; and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.
In a separate case, another local man was sentenced to nine months in jail
last Thursday for animal cruelty.The charges stemmed from the near
starvation of several dogs that were found at the man's home in September of
last year. During General Sessions Court, Judge Chuck Crawford sentenced
23-year-old Corey Berryhill, of 120 Hickory Ridge Road, to serve the time at
the Lincoln County Jail.
"This is a big step forward for us," said Marian Brasher, a member of the
Humane Society of Lincoln County.
Animal Control officers found an emaciated female boxer mix tied to
Berryhill's front porch. The dog had been left without food or water for an
undetermined amount of time. Four of her young nursing puppies had died and
four more miraculously survived, according to the local Humane Society.
Two small gray-black mixed breed dogs were kept in a pen in Berryhill's back
yard. They were also without food, rescue workers said. Two more indoor dogs
were released to the custody of the Humane Society at a later date for
placement.
According to Brasher, the Animal Shelter incurred more than $900 in
veterinary bills alone to treat the dogs with several courses of antibiotics
for infections. One of the older dogs required two surgeries.
