Police rescued 90 dogs from an animal shelter in Kentucky because of the alleged poor conditions in which they lived, and charged the owner after the bodies of cats and dogs were found in a local freezer.
The dogs were seized Saturday due to “appalling living conditions” at the Trixie Foundation shelter, Kentucky state police said in a press release. The shelter’s website advertises it as an “Eden” for animals and the “best kept secret in animal welfare”.
Melissa Bowman, president of the Kentuckians Vote for Animals organization, accompanied the police during the operation. She told the Lexington Herald-Ledger newspaper that the dogs suffered “medical negligence” and some had tumors. Others had to be sedated before being removed from the shelter, and one was euthanized on the premises.
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Police obtained a search warrant after receiving complaints about the shelter in April, the Herald-Ledger published.
The owner of the place, Randy Skaggs – who was due to appear in June to face a 2018 misdemeanor animal cruelty trial – said he gave animals medical care when necessary. The man argued that the workload had prevented him from burying the remains of the seven cats and five dogs found in the freezer.
“I have not intentionally done anything except try to help these animals,” said Skaggs. “We all make mistakes, and I have made many.”
Skaggs blamed those who criticize his policy of not slaughtering animals for influencing this latest police operation in order to pressure him to plead guilty to the charges he would face in June. Skaggs, 68, now has 12 more charges added, including wrongful removal of animal remains. The defendant, who was not arrested, said he intends to defend himself on all charges.
