3 men fined in animal caseIll-treatment charges involved 55 emaciated, ailing dogs and chickens By Prentiss Findlay (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Video
The Charleston Animal Society is caring for 43 dogs, most of them various breeds of hounds, removed from two separate residences this week. Animal control officers found hound dogs and chickens living in unsanitary conditions. Watch » Three men charged with multiple counts of ill-treatment of animals in a case involving 31 chickens and 24 dogs were fined and ordered Wednesday to pay restitution to the Charleston Animal Society. The animals are in such bad shape that officials said they may have no choice but to euthanize them. Jack D. Salisberry, 36, of Charleston; William K. Kinard, 31, of Goose Creek; and Bryan C. Owens, 18, of Wadmalaw Island were each ordered to pay $800 to the Charleston Animal Society. In addition, Salisberry was fined $800, and Kinard and Owens were each fined $320. All three appeared before Charleston County Magistrate David Coker, who said the restitution and fines were a result of "intense negotiations" between attorneys for the county and the defendants. None commented after the hearing. On July 30, county animal control found 23 hound dogs, one pit bull mix and 31 chickens in pens at Salisberry's home at 1861 Belgrade Ave. after responding to a complaint of foul odors. The pens were covered in feces. Flies and gnats swarmed around the animals. Their water was dirty, according to an incident report. Veterinarian Lucy Marlow on Wednesday said the chickens were dying when brought to the animal shelter. She described them as emaciated and plagued with bacterial infection. The dogs also were emaciated, and all but two had mange. They had "awful dental disease" and some had tumors, she said. It's difficult to say how many of the dogs may be adoptable. They are in bad shape medically, and hunting dogs are difficult to house-train. Bonding with a new owner also would be an issue, she said. "This needs to be an example to other people so it doesn't happen again," said Charles Karesh, animal society board of directors president. "These kind of people give hunters a bad name, a terrible name. The animals are in desperate shape." Salisberry is a member of Pine Cone Hunting Club. Some club members who attended the court hearing said afterward that they were distressed by the condition of the dogs and chickens. "We don't tolerate misuse of animals. We take care of them. If they have been treating the dogs that way at the house, they're not the kind of people we want associating with us at our hunting club," said club member Al Couch. Pine Cone Hunt Club leases 6,000 acres at U.S. Highway 17A and Clubhouse Road between Summerville and Cottageville, he said. Hunt club board member Allen King said Salisberry keeps dogs at the hunt club. King said he worried that those dogs may carry mange and other disease such as the ones at Belgrade Avenue, and the illness may be transmitted to other members' dogs only days before deer-hunting season opens on Aug. 15. King thought the punishment for the three defendants should be harsher. "They should have to go out there and live in the same conditions," he said. He said the hunt club board would review Salisberry's membership in the club and decide whether to give him his money back and ask him to leave. Reach Prentiss Findlay at 937-5711 or pfindlay@post andcourier.com. |
Article tools |
|
Notice about comments: Charleston.net is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Charleston.net does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not charleston.net. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "suggest removal" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Full terms and conditions can be read here. |
Comments
This article has 20 comment(s)
Posted by stand828 on August 7, 2008 at 5:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bastards! The "intense negotiations" led to a punishment that is not harsh enough. Hopefully, though, the publicity from these recent cases will cause a decrease in this type of crime and perhaps more contributions and assistance for the local shelters.
Posted by WhoCares on August 7, 2008 at 6:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree... Perhaps the county attorneys who were involved in these "intense negotiations" should have to live under the same conditions as the animals for a few weeks!!
I can't believe the board members at the hunt club would even have to think about this for a moment...kick the bastard out!!!
Posted by ASHLEY_COOPER on August 7, 2008 at 8:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How irresponsible. Next thing you know, mothers will be killing their children. Husband will be killing their wives. Lesbians will be murdering their lovers. Gays will be raping children.
Yes, lets make an example of them so it won't happen again.
Did you hear that Vick? We are going to make an example of them.
Posted by LadyRenegade on August 7, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
While I do not devalue Dr. Marlow's diagnosis of the dogs' medical conditions, I do believe her editorial comment was unnecessary and could possibly have detrimental effects on anyone considering adopting any adult dog that may make it medically through this horrid event, or any hound or other hunting type dog. Hunting dogs are still dogs. Any dog can be house trained with enough patience and understanding of appropriate methods. Likewise, any dog can bond with a new owner, given the opportunity, correct knowledge in approaching an adult dog bond, and again patience.
I am consistently rescuing lost hounds from clubs off 17A. Many of the dogs are extremely friendly and very submissive allowing me to look at their collars for phone numbers (I appreciate the fact that most hunt clubs use metal engraved tags.) Last week my husband and I found two more. They were covered in ticks. These are dogs with Hunt Club tags, the highest risks for getting ticks! And they're not on preventative medications?
Mr. King, your words echo everyone else's. I'm certain your board members will come to the same conclusion and allow Mr. Salisberry to remove himself from your club with forfeiture of moneys paid in restitution for a breach of contract, as I'm sure there has to be something in your rules and regulations regarding animal abuse.
Posted by LadyRenegade on August 7, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Now wait a minute Ashley! He was raised up that way, he don't know no bettah! They're just dogs they have no value. Just like all Southern cops use the line "Now get on outta that theya car boy and come on ovah heya so we can talk atcha!" And when a girl says "no" she really means "yes!" See how easy it is? Find your stereotype and put yourself in the cubbyhole all will be well. Ah well, at least the lawyers in this case fit theirs well enough, I'm just wondering if they are sharing their cubbyhole with water moccasins or cobras.
Posted by ashleyriver on August 7, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There's a special reserved in hell for those who abuse children and animals. I hope the "Big Guy Above" shows these 3 the same mercy they showed the poor, innocent creatures who, penned up by these vile individuals, depended on them for food, water and shelter.......this type cruelty deserves equally cruel punishment.
Posted by Marianne0558 on August 7, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Charleston Animal Society (formerly known as the John Ancrum SPCA) always has "no choice but to euthanize them"
Posted by Marianne0558 on August 7, 2008 at 9:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If any of you have actually seen an animal be euthanized, it's horrible. An assistant holds the animal down while the vet technician injects the animal's paw with poison. They pump the needle in and out so it flows faster. The heart beat slowly stops then they are dead. They place them in a garbage bag and haul them off into the dumpster until the dump trucks dump them to the landfill. At least that's how it was done at the SPCA. I hear the new Charleston Animal Society cremates the animals.
You wouldn't believe some of the things people do to animals. I've seen a skinned-alive bobcat, kittens with gunshots that were still alive although you could see through their bellies... Horrible, horrible things.
Posted by BulldogTLC on August 7, 2008 at 11:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Whoever skinned that bobcat alive is one tough SOB. Probably had some skin missing too.
Posted by kiwislady on August 7, 2008 at 12:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
too bad they "intensely" negotiated with these scumbags. i've know jack for years - this is not the first time he has mistreated animals. hope somebody goes back about 18 years and checks his records. he really is a bad one and surely needs no break!!! lady renegade: believe me, he was NOT raised up to treat animals cruelly! his mother did the best she could with him, his sister is a lovely lady (last i heard she was in the medical field). jack is just evil!
Posted by Marianne0558 on August 7, 2008 at 1:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They tranquilized the bobcat first, bulldogTLC
Posted by stephaniem on August 7, 2008 at 2:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Marianne0558,
two of my friends work for this SPCA. They come home crying as they get attached to these animals.
I fostered a perfectly good persian cat that was to be put to sleep b/c it refused to eat after being abandoned. I shoved high calorie cat food supplement onto the roof of her mouth for 2 weeks and she is now a fat adopted kitty......a kitty who won't leave me alone as I try to study for my finals right now and head buts my hand as I write.
a pesky little furball...(taking a break)
Posted by Marianne0558 on August 7, 2008 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I worked there but I never came home crying-I just quit the job. I tell everyone not to take animals there because in all likelihood, they will be put to sleep. I saved my dog from there. She was 5 weeks old. The manager signed her off to be euthanized because she was "thrifty," which meant merely ugly in SPCA terms. I was asked to hold her while they stuck her with the needle. She cried and I pulled her away just in time. Had her ever since and she is like a child to me. The best pet I've ever had. Hell, she behaves better than my child. I love that dog more than I care about most people.
Posted by 10216340 on August 7, 2008 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I've never worked for the SPCA but I do believe that they truly care about the animals and try to do the best they can. Unfortunately for them, reality rears it's ugly head. There are way more animals (along with irrisponsible owners) out there than they can place and/or take care of so many must be euthanized. I have also had a SPCA animal (wonderful cat) and appreciate all they do.
They save what they can I'm sure.
Posted by 2dogs1bear on August 7, 2008 at 3:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Marianne, that was a very kind act to save the life of that dog. Good for you! We adopted a mixed terrier from the (then) SPCA and she was the best dog we ever had! Everyone loved that spunky, joyful little girl!
As for this story -
These three rotten excuses for human beings deserve no sympathy, no excuses. I hope they get the max. And the max ought to be raised. It is a horrible act that cries out for justice, but likely these psychos will not get what they truly deserve, not in this life at least.
I remember well a while back those sweet natured little dogs who were used as dog fighting bait. It broke my heart to see the pictures. There is no place in hell good enough for these sorry SOBs. I am so glad the powers that be are finally getting serious about prosecuting these scumbags.
For the P&C - thanks for the great job of reporting animal abuse crimes and headlining the Charleston Animal Society yesterday. Good on ya.
Posted by meesta_challie on August 7, 2008 at 4:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just a fine ?
Not enough - this kind of thing needs jail time.
Posted by Don on August 7, 2008 at 5:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
These guys deserve jail time.....
SPCA and other shelters are overwhelmed due to the foreclosure mess...
Donate a small bit every month here if you want to help.... I did...
http://www.spca.com/donation/
Posted by walleyedwoman1215 on August 7, 2008 at 6:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Veterinarian Lucy Marlow on Wednesday said... "It's difficult to say how many of the dogs may be adoptable. They are in bad shape medically, and hunting dogs are difficult to house-train. Bonding with a new owner also would be an issue."
NO, NO, NO!! Don't paint them all with one brush; their lives depend on it. We have rescued/adopted a boxer, bluetick, black-and-tan and a lovely little terrier who was kept 24/7 in a soiled cage too small for a rabbit. They CAN be perfectly housetrained, they CAN AND WILL bond with a loving owner, and we CAN choose to save their lives.
I sound like a broken record, but PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE take a homeless pet into your heart and home. A breeder's pedigreed pup is not going to be euthanized. The funky mutt at the animal shelter will be. Please choose life!
Posted by copperhead on August 7, 2008 at 8:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You're right about one thing thing kiwi, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME he has been in trouble for the same thing! But, you're wrong about another. The apple apparently doesn't fall far from the tree, again. It was he and his father who were in trouble for animal cruelty. Not only that, I was a "member" of their "hunt club" some 20 years ago when they would run stolen (dogs they "collected" lost from others clubs according to Bubba Salisberry) on property that wasn't theirs!! My friends and I quit when this was all pieced together. That's a whole different story, but, brought forth to show the character of this heartless, pea-brained individual. He should face jailtime if ever again caught in possession of another animal (guppies included) If someone knows the phone # for Mr. Couch or Mr. King, PLEASE POST! I'd love to speak to them and get there minds right about Jack Salisberry, Jr. (Bubba)
Posted by Don on August 7, 2008 at 10:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Veterinarian Lucy Marlow on Wednesday said... "It's difficult to say how many of the dogs may be adoptable. They are in bad shape medically, and hunting dogs are difficult to house-train. Bonding with a new owner also would be an issue."
Give them a chance.... They did great things with some of Michael Vick's dogs.....