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MELISSA ANN FOSTER arrested and twelve dogs removed from her Shelby County home

Updated: Oct 11, 2023

- Tennessee, USA -


The Memphis Police Department arrested 39-years-old MELISSA ANN FOSTER (pictured).


On the early afternoon of Saturday, October 7, 2023, officers were dispatched to a property in the 1400 block of Decatur Street after receiving an animal cruelty call. The reporting party advised that in the backyard of the residence, were two dogs who appeared to be very malnourished.


Responding officers found the two dogs in the backyard, whom they described as “skin and bones”, and ten more dogs inside the home. In total, officers found nine puppies, and three adult dogs.


Police said all the Voiceless Victims were in bad condition and Memphis Animal Services took custody of them.


FOSTER told officers that the dogs had not been seen by any veterinarian. She was placed under arrest and booked into the Shelby County Jail on twelve counts of aggravated animal cruelty. Records show that FOSTER is being held on a $12,000 bond and she is due in court on October 9, 2023.


I have sent out a few emails to inquire about the furvictims. If I get 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.



FOSTER’s mugshot shared from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.


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Macon County breeders facing charges - More than thirty animals were found in deplorable conditions

- Tennessee, USA -


Animal Rescue Corps (ARC), a national animal protection nonprofit, said in a press release that they received “an urgent request for help from law enforcement in Macon County” after an animal control officer, responding to an anonymous tip, found a backyard breeder with multiple animals living in severely neglectful conditions.


ARC said they immediately assembled their Field Team and on Thursday, March 23, 2023, responded to the call.

At the location, ARC found and removed Great Danes and other large-breed dogs, cats, and chinchillas. The ARC called this rescue “Operation Gentle Giant.” More than thirty animals were removed.


As stated in the release, “Two state-licensed vets, part of ARC’s Field Team, have identified multiple cases of cherry eye, mammary tumors, granulomas on paws and legs from pressure sores, and other conditions consistent with unsanitary housing, neglect, and inadequate veterinary care.”


ARC explained that inside the property, “many of the dogs live[d] cruelly caged.” Some dogs were found packed together in cages so small that that voiceless victims had no room stand up, turn around, or spread limbs freely.

Outside the property, many of the dogs were found to be living in filthy, neglectful conditions, and were deprived of adequate shelter from the weather.


In the press release, ARC mentioned Poppy, one of the dogs who was found to be living in a small shed on the property with the highest ammonia levels. ARC said Poppy was used as a breeding mother, and “she is unable to even stand in her small cage.” “She has been used by the backyard breeder for profit, with no regard for her needs, her wishes, or her comfort,” said ARC.


Another “neglected, breeding mother” removed from the hellish property is Jasmine. The ARC said Jasmine “has been living outdoors and suffering from a highly inflamed, dual, and untreated prolapsed gland of her third eyelids (cherry eye).”


All the furvictims are now receiving medical care and emotional support. The ARC said many of them “are also terrified, and will document the cruelties inflicted on their bodies for evidence packages in legal proceedings.”


ARC’s Executive Director, Tim Woodward said: “These breeding mills put profit above the welfare of the animals and it’s the animals who suffer.”


This is ARC’s third large-scale rescue in the space of eleven days. Before this rescue, the ARC had “over 140 residents” and yet, they stepped in to help all these innocent souls. The organization needs help to face this latest challenge, so if you wish and can afford to help out, please click here. Thank you!


The Macon County Sheriff’s Office arrested the filthy breeders but their names have not been disclosed.

Updates will be posted as they become available.


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.



Pictured shared from Animal Rescue Corps (ARC).


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CHAD SMITH, former animal control officer, charged after dead dogs found in his backyard

- Tennessee, USA -


CHAD SMITH (pictured), employee of Main Street Animal Clinic in Oakland, and former

Fayette County Animal Control Officer is facing animal cruelty charges. SMITH worked with Fayette County Animal Control from February 2020 to May 2021 before he resigned.


The Fayette County Sheriff’s Department said the charges stem from the discovery of dozens of dogs' remains and six live ones in the backyard of a home on Hall Drive in Somerville on January 11, 2023.


Part of a Facebook post published by Main Street Animal Clinic on March 22, 2023, read: “As many of you have heard, one of our employees, Chad Smith, was arrested last night on multiple counts of animal abuse. When we hired Chad Smith, he was a beloved resident of Fayette County and was used by many animal rescue groups. We did not know of any harmful, neglectful, or suspicious activity by Chad prior to these allegations. We were truly shocked by these allegations as I think many people have been. If you have met Chad, he was always (friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to help) nothing ever alerted us for what he has been accused of.”


A spokesperson for the veterinary clinic emphasized that “Anyone who has called or been to our clinic since early February would know that Chad has NOT been there.”


Deputy Chief Garcia with the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department explained to WREG that it was landscape workers who made the gruesome discovery in the backyard. He said: “They had noticed there were a lot of kennels, there appeared to be a large number of bones around and they actually saw some dog carcasses there on the property.”


Six dogs were found alive, but the exact number of the deceased animals is unknown.

Deputy Chief Garcia further said: “Our investigators spent hours out there digging and locating bones there on the property.”

Investigators later determined the dogs died due to severe malnutrition and starvation and said that SMITH was in direct care and control of the animals and deprived them of food and water.


On Thursday, March 23, 2023, WREG went to the house of horror but no one opened the door. SMITH no longer lives there and he was arrested somewhere else in Fayette County.


SMITH, who now lives in Oakland, is charged with ten counts of aggravated animal cruelty but the number of counts may change as more forensic evidence comes up.

SMITH was released after posting a $50,000 bond!


Main Street Animal Clinic said: “Our top priority has, and always will be, the best service and care for pets and their pet families” and added: “The allegations against Chad Smith in no way reflects Main Street Animal Clinic’s morals, practices, or values and we hope you are able to see that.”


Through the clinic’s Facebook post, Jennifer Dunlap DVM advised:

1) “The handful of dogs found alive have already been traced back to their rescues/shelters of origin. And I cannot imagine the pain upon reading this if you were not one of the rescues or shelters we contacted and I'm so sorry.”


2) “If you have information regarding a dog that you placed with Chad Smith from January 2022- December 2022 please contact Investigator Salamon at 901-466-3918. Please use this number only if you have paperwork and photos regarding the dog placed.”


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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