AR-News: (TX - US)Man arrested for starving six pit bull dogs; may get them back

[Snugglezzz at aol.com]

MAN ARRESTED FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY
 
  
By: KRISTI FLIPPIN, Staff Writer June 07, 2004 
   
 
SAD SIGHT: One of six dogs found starving in Smith County is shown Monday. The dogs' owner was arrested for cruelty to animals. (Staff Photo By: Kristi Flippin)
 
 
A follow-up visit to the home of six skinny puppies Monday afternoon resulted in the arrest of their allegedly neglectful owner.

Jason Chapman, animal control officer for the Precinct 2 Constable's Office, was working a stray-dog call in the area of County Road 1280 last week when he got a tip about a person possibly involved in dogfighting.

Chapman found six pit bulls in a back yard; each tethered to the ground with little or no food and water.

"He said he was using them to hog hunt," Chapman said. "So I told him to feed them and I would come back to check on them in a week."

On the return visit Monday, one dog barked ferociously and then ate a few bites of food that was soaking wet from the afternoon's thunderstorm. 

 
Another cowered in the middle of overgrown grass near a pile of burned trash.

The owner went to jail on one count of cruelty to animals, a Class A misdemeanor.

"I gave him a week to remedy the problem, but they look even worse now," Chapman said. "You can count every rib on each of them."

The puppies will be taken to the Humane Society and put to sleep or the owner could get them back in three days.

It is up to the constable's office and the Humane Society to make the final decision.

"Either way, I hope this guy realizes the way he was treating these dogs was wrong," Chapman said.

The owner said he wants to get the dogs back.

"He is a nice guy, but he just can't afford to take care of all these dogs," Chapman said.


Kristi Flippin covers Henderson and Van Zandt counties. She can be reached at 903.596-6267. e-mail: news at tylerpaper.com