IDA’s Hope Animal Sanctuary (HAS, formerly Project Hope) and the Charleston, Mississippi Police Department worked together in July to rescue six starving, chained dogs from Sanders’ property on West Main Street in Charleston. Videotape of the dogs’ conditions and the rescues may be seen at IDA’s website, www.idausa.org. Doll Stanley, the Director of IDA-HAS, filed the affidavits in support of criminal neglect charges. Two of the dogs have since died.

“The entire town of Charleston, especially Animal Control Officer Kevin Hodges, deserves praise for their handling of this case,” said Stanley. “When ACO Hodges sees abuse, he acts. When he needs assistance he calls me. The chief has a zero tolerance policy for animal abuse, the PD act, and Kevin is spotter and town crier. The crowning testimony to the compassion of the community is Judge Steve Ross.”

Sanders was found guilty on six counts for failure to provide sufficient and wholesome food and water, the only statute available for charging these crimes. “While we are thrilled with the conviction,” added Stanley, “this points out the need for stronger animal cruelty statutes in Mississippi, and we urge all those who care about animals to contact Mississippi House Speaker Billy McCoy to ask his support for stronger statutes.”

The Mississippi State Supreme Court has ruled MSSS: 97-41-1 (Mississippi’s animal cruelty statute) vague and therefore unconstitutional. Since that ruling, there has been no revision of this statute, or the Chapter 41 statutes addressing the neglect of animals. IDA’s Hope Animal Sanctuary is working with veterinarians, humane representatives, concerned citizens and other leaders to strengthen Mississippi’s cruelty to animals statutes.

Judge Ross imposed a $75 fine for the conviction for each dog (6), a $95 court cost for trying each count, and $25 per count for the enforcement of the arrest warrants.  Sanders may not possess an animal for three (3) years and was handed a six-month suspended jail term provided she complies with sentencing provisions.

“The responsibility of achieving justice for the animals who suffer at the hands of abusers weighs on all of us,” added Stanley. “But this trial couldn’t have gone more perfectly – and we are cheered by the thrilling recovery of the four dogs who survived Annie Ruth Sanders back yard.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Doll Stanley, Hope Animal Sanctuary Director, 662-237-0233, Doll@idausa.org

Jackson, Miss. – In Defense of Animals’ (IDA) Project Hope sanctuary near Grenada, Mississippi, and Mississippi Spay & Neuter (MS SPAN) are teaming up to spay and neuter scores of dogs released to IDA by a Holmes County woman. Once a breeder, she’d fallen on hard times and couldn’t feed or properly care for the dogs.

On Friday, February 5, 20 of the dogs will be spayed by MS SPAN at their “Big Fix” rig at 2104 Old Brandon Road, Pearl, Mississippi. IDA and MS SPAN hope this event will bring attention to the plight of homeless and abused companion animals across Mississippi through the promotion of affordable low cost, high volume spay/neuter of animals.

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah alerted IDA that the woman had about 30 dogs she couldn’t feed. Project Hope Director Doll Stanley, accompanied by Dr. Walter Roberts, DVM, of Lexington conducted a needs assessment, helped remove the first 19 dogs, and provided urgent care for the animals.

The woman, who really had over 60 dogs, refused to abandon them when hard times hit, even remaining in a rental house with no north wall. When asked what she did in inclement weather she responded, “I wrap up and sit on the porch.”

Project Hope will return to the woman one dog who she cannot part with, and she’ll be moving to a habitable home. “It’s so easy for us to judge people who keep so many animals they can’t care for, but their stories aren’t always that simple. This woman showed me pictures of the good days when she lived in a lovely home, her small dogs were dressed in outdoor gear when in the yard, and her life as a nurse was very different,” Ms. Stanley said.

“That this woman has lived in dire conditions suffering a disabled back, and begged for food for her animals, is a tribute to her true commitment to them,” added Stanley. “She isn’t a collector who acquires animals she can’t help. Though she falls under the “hoarder” category for allowing the dogs to multiply, I’m humbled by her will to stand by them and ask for help.”

Project Hope has partnered with Every Creature Counts (ECC) in the Denver area of Colorado to place the dogs for adoption. Project Hope’s transport team will leave Grenada Tuesday to bring the dogs to ECC, which will be showing the dogs at an upcoming PetSmart Charities “Adoptathon.” To contribute, visit www.idausa.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2010

Contact: Doll Stanley, 662-809-4483