ASPCA Assists Adams County Sheriff’s Office in Removal of 50 Dogs in Animal Cruelty Case

Natchez, Miss.—The ASPCA^® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) is responding to an urgent request from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office to assist local authorities with a Mississippi animal cruelty investigation involving 50 dogs found on a property in Natchez. The ASPCA Field Investigations and Response team is providing subject matter expertise, assisting with evidence collection, and transporting dogs from the property to a temporary shelter at an undisclosed location where they will receive much-needed care. The Natchez Adams County Humane Society also assisted local authorities by providing temporary shelter for dogs in critical condition until the ASPCA arrived.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant Tuesday, where law enforcement officers reported finding dogs living in unsanitary conditions and exhibiting numerous signs of cruelty and neglect. Some of the animals appeared to be suffering from untreated medical injuries and dogs were found chained outside with lack of access to water or appropriate shelter.

“Some of these animals were found in appalling conditions and many are in dire need of medical assistance,” said Kyle Held, regional director of ASPCA Field Investigations and Response. “Upon receiving an urgent request, the ASPCA quickly mobilized its team to assist the Adams County Sheriff’s Office and provide critical support for the investigation and much-needed care for the dogs found throughout the property.”

The ASPCA is also providing assistance with veterinary forensic exams and evidence collection conducted by its Forensic Sciences team, behavior assessments conducted by its Anti-Cruelty Behavior team, and legal support provided by its Legal Advocacy department to ensure the best legal outcome for these animals.

The ASPCA’s Field Investigations and Response team deploys nationally to assist local authorities in animal cruelty cases and disaster situations. In the past two months, the Field Investigations and Response team responded to four major disasters, assisting more than 30,000 animals through field rescue, relocation, emergency sheltering and the distribution of critical pet supplies in four states and the U.S. Virgin Islands.