Updated: 11/19/2009 4:47:46 PM
Dozens of emails with pressure from animal rescue groups around East Tennessee have prompted a District Attorney investigator to resond, detailing the process they must follow in the case of an alleged Roane County puppy mill.
John Sanchez says while animal rescue groups are growing frustrated that nearly 80 dogs are still in the custody of a Marjorie Dodds, a woman charged with animal cruelty, for the moment his hands are tied.
"We are just at a point in the process where our actions are mundane, yet essential. There is a legal process that must take place, and it is our intention to uphold Tennessee laws without violating them or cutting corners in the legal process," he said in a written statement to the media.
Sanchez says until Dodd's court appearance on December 14th, all the animals, including those seized earlier this month are technically Dodd's property.
"When permitted by the courts, I will retrieve the rest of the pets. I will then call on concerned citizens... to wash, house, and care for these animals so they can get on theri way to permanent and caring homes," Sanchez wrote.
Previous Report
After Victoria Medaglia heard about the living conditions Roane County Animal Control and District Attorney's office investigators found more than 100 dogs living in during an alleged puppy mill bust earlier this month, she knew she wanted to help.
What she didn't know is that two weeks later, the same woman charged with six counts of animal cruelty would still have custody of somewhere around 75 dogs.
"I just can't understand how humans can put themselves up and think they're such a wonderful species when they treat animals and children the way they do," Medaglia said.
Marjorie Dodd turned over 28 dogs during that raid, 24 are being cared for by local rescue groups. Now, Medaglia is the temporary new owner of "Otter" a Chihuahua investigators believe spent most of her life living in cramped quarters, with nasty water and ammonia from urine in the air at dangerously high levels.
"I can keep her loved and fed and taken care of until somebody else can give her a permanent home," she said.
But others worry about the dogs that are still in Dodd's care and local rescue groups are starting to put pressure on elected officials. Pictures taken by investigators indicate algae in water dishes and many dogs living in their own feces.
"We want the remaining 80 dogs off that property, we don't want her to be able to do this ever again," Karen Marquand, of the Small Breed Rescue of East Tennessee said.
"I live in Roane County, I'm ashamed of this. We've had enough scars on our county and I think this is another one if it's not handled right," Sherrie Farver, of Little Paws Canine Rescue said. "They need to be out of there today. They should have been out of there months ago."
Initially, Roane County's Animal Shelter said they took what they could handle at the shelter. Now, the rescue groups are strongly urging the county to call in a larger organization, like the Humane Society of the United States to clean-up the alleged puppy mill and give the dogs medical care.
'I think if they called them, they'd be mobilized and ready to come in and help," Marquand said.
Even those dogs who are in county custody can't have the procedures veterinarians say they need.
The veterinarian who went along with investigators during the raid has written up several summaries of dogs and what's she's diagnosed.
Among the problems, rotting teeth with infections actually getting into the gums, mange, hernias, and even tumors.
Because they're technically evidence, the county is limited in what they can do.
Dodds is scheduled in court December 14th. Roane County's Animal Shelter has said they plan more dogs be turned over, and they'd like a court order from that judge.
John Sanchez, an investigator with the Roane County District Attorney's Office did not return 10News' repeated phone calls seeking comment on this story.
