- West Virginia, USA -
The Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association received several complaints about a dog who appeared to be malnourished and was limping at a home in the 5100 block of Raven Drive in Rand.
On December 3, 2024, a humane officer contacted the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office and alerted deputies to the situation.
The humane officer advised deputies that there appeared to be puppies inside the residence. Many neighbors said the home had no water or electricity.
According to the humane officer, he had left his contact information at the home many times, but no one ever called him.
Two days later, on December 5, 2024, a detective with the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the home in question and he confirmed that the home did not have electricity or water.
The detective found nine puppies who were malnourished and did not have any food. He reported that the puppies were huddled together and shivering. At the time, the temperature was less than 20 degrees. He also saw feces everywhere at the home.
The detective then went to look for the puppies’ mom and found her with 30-year-old ASHLEY NICHOLE RHODES (pictured). RHODES said she lived at the home and admitted the mother dog and her babies were hers.
The detective described the mother dog as being in poor condition with her hip bones protruding.
Veterinarians at the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association examined the puppies and their mom and all of them tested positive for a heavy intestinal parasite load of both hookworm and round worms, which according to the criminal complaint, if not treated could lead to death.
A vet determined the puppies were five to six weeks old and should not have been weaned from their mother. The vet further determined that since the puppies were apart for at least a week and not found together, they should be kept apart.
According to the vet the mama dog was very thin and bordering on emaciated.
On the late evening of December 16, 2024, deputies arrested RHODES and charged her with ten counts of animal cruelty. At the time of writing, online arrest records show that she is being held in South Central Regional Jail on a $8,000 surety/cash bond.
RHODES relinquished her rights and signed over the mama dog and her babies.
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In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.
RHODES’ mugshot shared from the WV Regional Jail & Correctional Facility
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