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Six Forsyth County residents arrested for adopting out puppies with parvo – Five puppies died

- Georgia, USA -

 

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office arrested six individuals after several puppies died of parvovirus after being adopted out of a home on 5675 Archer Avenue.

 

According to a press release by the sheriff’s office and obtained by Voice For Us, Forsyth County Animal Services had been dealing with the arrestees since April 2023, when a puppy was sold from that location and later died from parvo.

 

On that occasion, all six individuals “were instructed not to adopt any other animals until the residence and other animals on scene were treated for parvovirus”, stated the release.

Instead, they all chose to ignore the warning and since then, four more puppies have died.

Two had to be humanely euthanized due to parvovirus in December 2023. The other two died in January 2024, on separate occasions. One of the two was euthanized and the other one was found dead on the front porch by Animal Services on January 11, 2024. On that day Animal Services had gone to the residence and in addition to the deceased dog on the porch, they also found and removed one dog who was extremely sick.

 

Forsyth County Animal Services say that after all six of them were warned several times to stop buying and selling animals, and after nearly a year of non-compliance, and several animal deaths, law enforcement was forced to get involved.

 

On January 12, 2024, a search warrant was obtained for the residence for the removal of all animals.

 

As stated in the release: “Upon execution of the search warrant, the residence was observed in extreme filth and disarray, with trash, feces, and urine throughout the home. Dogs were in cages, 2 per cage, [without] water as the residence did not have running water. A total of 12 dogs and two bearded dragons were seized during the search warrant.”

The rescued Voiceless Victims are currently receiving medical care at the Forsyth County Pet Resource Center (formerly the Animal Shelter).

 

On January 16, 2024, detectives learned that two of the six residents had each adopted a puppy via Facebook.

The sheriff’s office said despite the multiple warnings, and knowing how dangerously contagious parvo is, all the six individuals have continued to bring animals into the home. “the residents of the household maliciously and with intent, failed to provide sanitary conditions and medical treatment to the animals living within the residence to the extent it resulted in the death of five animals”, stated the release.

 

Arrest warrants were obtained for:

 

·         22-years-old SHEYANN BELLE-EDWARDS (pictured), for Aggravated Cruelty to Animals and four counts of Cruelty to Animals.

 

·         24-years-old HANNAH RENE GLENN (pictured), for four counts of Cruelty to Animals.

 

·         34-years-old JONATHAN LEE JAGNEAUX (pictured), for Cruelty to Animals.

 

·         28-years-old LASHIA LEEANN SAMPLES (pictured), for five counts Cruelty to Animals.


·         18-years-old KIARA WALLIS (pictured), for 2 counts of Cruelty to Animals.

 

·         28-years-old EMILY GRACE WILGUS (pictured), for three counts of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals and two counts of Cruelty to Animals.

 

They were all transported to the Forsyth County Jail and according to online records, only WALLIS is no longer in custody.

 

The sheriff’s office said the two puppies adopted over the weekend along with a cat were seized by animal control.

 

Forsyth County Community & Animal Safety Director Jerry Ramos said in a statement: “The Animal Services team worked quickly to respond to the alleged case and partnered with the  Sheriff's Office for the investigation as quickly as possible once the severity of the situation was apparent. We feel that the reason we were able to rescue as many animals as we did was because of the great partnership between Animal Services, the Pet Resource Center and the Sheriff’s Office.”

 

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.

 


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RANDALL LARRY THAXTON sentenced to five years in prison for dogfighting and animal cruelty

- Georgia, USA -

 

The Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office announced that on Friday, January 12, 2024, in Cherokee County Superior Court, 59 RANDALL LARRY THAXTON (pictured) was sentenced after being found guilty of running a dogfighting operation out of his Canton home.

 

On December 8, 2023, after about three hours of jury deliberation, THAXTON was found guilty of nine counts of dogfighting and seven counts of cruelty to animals.

 

Superior Court Judge Tony Baker sentenced THAXTON to twenty (20) years in prison, with the first five years to be served behind bars.

THAXTON was ordered to pay $45,000 in fines and to serve 360 hours of mandatory community service. Additionally, according to the DA’s Office, THAXTON is forbidden from “owning”, “possessing”, or breeding dogs and may not have contact with any known dogfighters or people who attend dogfights.

 

It all started in November 2022, when Cherokee and Paulding County authorities received a tip about possible dogfighting activity.

 

The Cherokee County Marshals conducted a welfare check at a home on Union Hill Road in Canton and reported “signs that Thaxton was possibly involved in dog fighting.”

According to the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office, “Officers noticed that eight of his dogs were tethered outside with heavy logging chains commonly used by dog fighters. The dogs were chained close to each other but just out of reach, a tactic that serves to build dog aggression. These signs of dog fighting, along with additional investigation, led to the Marshal’s Office following up with a search warrant.”

 

A search warrant executed at the home on December 6, 2022, led to the discovery of items associated with dog fighting. Authorities found steroids, a break stick, medical supplies for treating wounds, a journal with animal workout regimens, documents linking dogs to other dog fighters, contracts for dog sales, and a dog fighting creed.

 

The DA’s Office said that the veterinarian who examined the Voiceless Victims “found that they had skin infections, rashes around their necks from their collars, and swollen paw pads.”

 

THAXTON was placed under arrest and all the furvictims were taken to the Cherokee County Animal Shelter where a pregnant dog gave birth to puppies soon afterward.

 

Animal Crimes Resource Prosecutor Jessica Rock said in a statement: “Dog fighters operate hidden in plain sight, in an organized, criminal enterprise that includes breeding and selling dogs, training dogs, hosting and spectating violent fights, and fighting dogs to the point of exhaustion or serious injury. It is a despicable activity that is incredibly cruel to the dogs. By prosecuting dog fighters, we bring this underground world to light, ensure that these dogs receive the justice they deserve, and work toward someday completely eradicating this crime.”

 

Assistant District Attorney Rachel Murphy said evidence suggested THAXTON may have been involved in dogfighting for decades.

 

Cherokee County District Attorney Susan Treadaway stated: “Let this be a clear message that Cherokee County will not accept or condone inhumane treatment of animals – especially the violence and abuse associated with dog fighting. It is time as a society that we step up and stop the abuse and mistreatment of innocent animals. Ordinary citizens can play a part in stopping the abuse of animals by recognizing signs of dog fighting and reporting concerns to law enforcement.”

 

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.

 

 

THAXTON’s mugshot via the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office


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MARGARET ELIZABETH NEVILS arrested - Dogs and puppies found dead in a bedroom, fridge, and freezer

Updated: Jan 10, 2024

- Georgia, USA -

 


~ Update: January 10, 2023

 

Following my email to Animal Services, I learned that the age of the rescued Pitbull “has not been determined at this time” and that staff do not know whether she has a name. I was told that after being rescued, the furbaby “was taken to Hill Top Animal Hospital for evaluation. The medical report from Hill Top Animal Hospital states the dog was malnourished, had scars on her face, fractured teeth, bleeding tail, and dandruff. She weighed 37lbs when taken for evaluation.”

 

~ Original story:


The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office arrested 41-years-old MARGARET ELIZABETH NEVILS (pictured).

 

According to the incident report obtained by Voice For Us, the sheriff’s office received a phone call from a woman who said she hadn’t seen her neighbor, NEVILS, at her Grovetown home on 2064 Magnolia Parkway since October 2023. The woman also said that she had not seen NEVILS’ car or anyone at the residence and provided deputies with a phone number. The sheriff’s office said that attempts were unsuccessful as the number “went straight to voicemail.”

 

On January 4, 2023, a deputy responded to the address to conduct a welfare check. Through two windows in the front of the house, he could see inside as the blinds were partially pulled up. The deputy saw that the floor was covered in animal feces, and the furniture was destroyed.

 

A small Pitbull ran from the back of the residence to the window. The deputy said the Pitbull was emaciated so Animal Services were called in. The deputy then went to the backyard and saw that most of the floor in the kitchen area was also covered in feces. He further noticed holes through the walls in the kitchen and garage that had been chewed by the Pitbull.

 

The deputy rang the bell and knocked on the door but he did not get any answer. He then forced entry into the back-door glass window and unlocked the door. Officer Csira with Animal Services then entered the residence to retrieve the Pitbull.

 

At that point, deputies entered the house. They found three locked interior doors and noticed “that blood was seeping from the freezer section of the refrigerator”, stated the incident report. A deputy opened the freezer door “and saw a black trash bag with an animal foot sticking out.”

 

The report goes on to say: “There were multiple bags in the freezer and the refrigerator containing dog carcasses.”

 

Deputies then forced entry into the locked bedrooms in an attempt to locate anyone in the residence. In the master bedroom, they found three deceased dogs in various stages of decomposition. In the spare bedroom, there were several empty dog cages with another piece of furniture that was also shredded. In the last bedroom, they found items belonging to a child or teenager. No human remains were located on the property.

 

Investigator William Bonsack with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office was also notified and responded to the scene.

 

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office tells me that a total of fourteen (14) deceased dogs were found inside the residence. Three (3) of them were found in a bedroom, three (3) others were found in the fridge, and eight (8) in a freezer. These eight furbabies were an adult and seven (7) puppies. The sheriff’s office also told me that the live female Pitbull is expected to make a full recovery and that necropsies will be performed on the deceased Voiceless Victims to determine the cause of death.

 

NEVILS was arrested on animal cruelty charges and booked into the Columbia County `Jail. She was released after posting a $5,000 bond.

 

Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official documents obtained by Voice For Us.

 

 

NEVILS’ mugshot provided to Voice For Us by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office





 
 
 

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