Cats, Dogs, Turtles Locked Inside Home for Weeks

Yalobusha County, Miss. (June 24, 2013) In Defense of Animals (IDA), an international animal protection organization, announced the June 1, 2013 execution of a search and seizure warrant at the residence of Christina Montgomery and Rodney Hanks of Coffeeville, MS.

IDA’s Hope Animal Sanctuary(HAS), located in Carroll County, MS, received a call from the Yalobusha County Sheriff’s Department for aid in investigating a complaint that a Yalobusha County couple had moved and left dogs and cats locked unattended in their residence. HAS Director Doll Stanley and Yalobusha County Sheriff’s Deputy Jimmy Bailey teamed in the investigation.

On arrival at the residence, Stanley and Officer Bailey were approached by neighbors pleading for help for the animals. It was estimated the family had left a month prior, leaving everything behind, to prevent the Department of Humane Services from removing the children.

Officers spotting a cat and a small dog through the windows provided probable cause to secure the seizure.

Officer Bailey gained entry through the front door. In the interior debris, a terrarium containing two shriveled box turtles was also discovered, as were decomposing cats and carcasses covering a child’s bedroom floor.

“When Officer Bailey and I had completed the search of the residence I’d documented eight dead and decomposing animals confined in rooms without food or water, and the ghastly decomposing body of a dog in a bag in the backseat of the vehicle in the yard,” said Doll Stanley. “ I can’t express the shock of actually removing three live animals from the residence. They survived solely because they broke into food containers and the toilet lid was up, where they drank from the disgusting bowl.” shared Stanley.

Stanley filed criminal affidavits and Justice Court Judge Gary Tippet issued arrest warrants for Montgomery and Hanks for the torturous death of the dehydrated animals, some who had been forced to cannibalized their dead companions in a vain attempt to survive.

IDA is working to alert the public that their cooperation is needed to aid law enforcement to apprehend the couple. Anyone with information on their whereabouts should call the Yalobusha County Sheriff’s Department at 662-473-2722 or anonymously report the information to Hope Animal Sanctuary at 662-809-4483.

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In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization headquartered in San Rafael, California dedicated to protecting animals’ rights, welfare, and habitats through education, outreach, and our hands-on rescue facilities in India, Africa, and rural Mississippi.

3010 KERNER BLVD. – SAN RAFAEL, CA 94901 – 415-448-0048WWW.IDAUSA.ORG

 

 

Categories: Crime, Local News

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