The Times-Tribune
CORBIN —
By Adam S. Sulfridge / Staff Writer
Three dogs removed from a Highland Park home on March 11 were in such poor health that the Knox-Whitley Animal Shelter had to put the dogs down, according to police.
The dogs were removed from the home at 220 Rains St. along with three ducks, several cats, and many roosters and chickens by the Williamsburg Police Department and Whitley County Animal Control after complaints by neighbors.
When officers arrived, they found a fresh chicken carcass inside one dog’s cage, indicating, they said, how starved the dog was. No dog food was found in that cage or in another cage containing two other dogs.
“Unfortunately I think the dogs were in very bad health and very aggressive,” Public Affairs Officer Shawn Jackson said, “and the animal shelter had to put them down, which was likely in the best interest of the dogs and those around them… They were very sick, and it was determined by the animal shelter that they probably couldn’t be nursed back to health.”
As for the other cats and birds, Jackson said they will likely be nursed back to health and hopefully placed in safe homes.
According to Jackson, a person who took the other animals and provided initial care said they became active after being fed and showed signs of recovery.
Jackson noted, “It’s a very sad situation for the animals, but it falls back to the owners [for] not taking care of them properly and allowing them to starve and become very sick.”
He added, “Right now it’s still under investigation, and we’re still trying to determine the location of the person who owned the animals.”
