MERLIN J. AVET arrested and charged with cruelty to animals due to his dogs’ living conditions
- voiceforus
- Dec 27, 2022
- 2 min read
- Louisiana, USA -
The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested 61-years-old MERLIN J. AVET (pictured) and charged him with cruelty to animals.
In regard to AVET’s arrest, the sheriff’s office said: “The arrest was made due to the animals’ living conditions. That investigation is ongoing. Due to the life-threatening temperatures we are currently experiencing, we asked Livingston animal control to step in to find adequate shelter for the animals. They did. So did family members. We will continue working with all to determine the next best steps.”
AVET was taken into custody on Thursday, December 22, 2022, and was released after posting a meager $500 bond.
The news outlet Unfiltered With Kiran reports that one of AVET’s neighbors claims she filed multiple reports with the sheriff’s office since 2020. The neighbor, who wished to be referred to as Shannon for privacy reasons, even made a report with the parish president’s compliance department for the state of AVET’s property.
Shannon told Unfiltered With Kiran: “I didn’t want it to get to that point that he was arrested for animal cruelty and that the animals were brought to the shelter and euthanized. I didn’t want it to come to this.”
Shannon claims AVET’s dogs “have repeatedly gotten onto her property: some killed her chickens, one chased her nephew and another dog took her sister’s purse.”
The neighbor also claims rats will run down the road from AVET’s property, and that they do not know how many dogs he has because they hide beneath the cars.
According to Shannon, animal control removed eleven dogs from AVET’s property on the night of Wednesday, December 21, 2022. Officers then returned the following day to remove more dogs and they are “setting traps and trying to catch the rest of the outdoor dogs.”
“It’s a sad situation, completely unnecessary, very sad. They kept breeding. Probably in the last month or two, my sisters said there are more puppies over there. It’s sad, it’s very sad. I feel sorry for the dogs,” said Shannon.
The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office has not disclosed any information about AVET’s property.
I have emailed Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard and requested additional information. If I receive a response, I will post an update.
Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.
Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.
Additional Source:
Does Livingston Parish even care about the welfare of these dogs? The complaints have been registered for years but they did not bother to check? We are the guardians of animals. They depend on us. This idiot was released on $500 bond!? Step up Louisiana, it’s your damn job!