Abused animals recovering, in need of homes

Linda Goodrich of Bedford County Animal Control says that Bandit, a pit bull puppy, is a very friendly dog that she hopes can find a permanent home. Bandit was one of 43 animals seized from a Unionville property last month after the owners were charged with animal cruelty.
(T-G Photo by Brian Mosely)

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But one month later, a variety of animals rescued from a Unionville property are getting better and finding new homes, although some difficulties remain for Bedford County Animal Control.

On the day before Thanksgiving, authorities were called to the home of Thomas and Brenda Snell of Halls Mill Road to investigate reports of abused animals.

What they found were over 40 animals in poor condition, including some that had already apparently died of starvation. The Snells were charged with 11 counts of cruelty to animals and four counts of child neglect.

A variety of creatures were discovered on the property, including a number of coon hounds, exotic birds and puppies. But there was no food or water on the Snell property, which allegedly led to the deaths of some of the dogs.

Several other dogs that were found on the Snell land died over the next few days as members of the county's animal control tried to save as many as they could.

Ready for adoption

Today, the majority of the rescued animals have been nursed back to health and office assistant Brenda Goodrich has been busy finding new permanent homes for the variety of pets.

With the exception of two of the animals, all have been placed on the Web site petfinder.com. All someone has to do is search for Bedford County Animal Control under "Animal Shelters" on the site, Goodrich said, and a list of the pets available for adoption can be found.

The use of the site has already resulted in an Amazon parrot and a Ringneck parrot being adopted, with a person travelling from Nashville to take a look at the Ring neck bird.

"Those were special needs birds, they really needed to be handled by somebody with a lot of experience," Goodrich explained.

Goodrich said both of the bird "have been traumatized" and as a result, they will bite. But unlike a small bird like a parakeet, these large winged creatures can easily remove a finger.

"They can cause major damage."

No homes

Plenty of coon hounds were taken from a Unionville couple accused of starving over 40 pets last month, but finding new homes for them has been difficult.
(T-G Photo by Brian Mosely)

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"Most coon hunters are of the misconception that you shouldn't spay or neuter your coon dog if you are going to hunt," she said. But before any animal is released for adoption by their department, they have to be "fixed," per Tennessee state law.

Goodrich said a person came in to look at the coon dogs and said, "What if this dog is a good hunter and I want to breed him to get a pup?"

"That's fine, but what happens to the rest of the pups?" Goodrich asked. "A dog isn't going to have just one, she is going to have a litter of anywhere from seven to 12 dogs. The rest are going to be throwaways."

As a result, very few of the coon dogs get to go on the rescue wagon and there isn't a great need for the breed up north. As a result, a lot of the coon dogs get put down, she said.

So far, none of the coon dogs have been adopted, Goodrich said. She also "had some nibbles" on adoptions for the other dogs.

Problems

Goodrich said she has something in the works for the cocker spaniel found on the Snell property, but she is worried for a pit bull puppy she has for adoption.

"As you know, there is a big stigma that goes with pit bulls, but Bandit is such a sweet little puppy, and doesn't know anything bad," she said. "He can be a really nice dog."

She is hoping to find someone to adopt Bandit who won't crop his ears or cut his tail "and just be nice to him."

Many of the animals were extremely malnourished when they were discovered, and in the month since they were brought to the shelter they are all doing better "for the most part."

Not all were so lucky. One of the puppies never recovered from the lack of food and died while at the shelter.

Sam Sales of the department said that some of the dogs have gained 10 to 12 pounds, while others have put on just a few pounds, according to the nature of their breeds.

One person who has already adopted one of the dogs said the first time she fed him, "he ate like he wasn't going to get another meal."

Sales said one of the animals was so starved, it wouldn't let anyone come around him, but after three weeks of food and care he's become very friendly.

Goodrich said the biggest need for the dogs now is high grade, high protein dog food, like puppy chow.

If you would like to adopt or help out with the animals taken from the Snell property, you can go to petfinder.com or call the shelter at (931) 685-1130 or pay them a visit at 205 Lane Parkway.