Long Beach Animal Rescue Founder Charged With 128 Counts Of Animal Cruelty

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The operator of a Long Beach animal rescue group has been arrested and charged with 128 counts of aggravated animal cruelty.

Tennessee television news station WTKR News Channel 3 reports Hearts for Hounds founder Bonnie Sheehan, 55, and Pamela A. King-McCracken were stopped by the West Tennessee Drug Task Force during a traffic stop on Interstate 40 in Fayette County. The women were transporting animals via a U-haul truck driven by Sheehan and a minivan towed by the truck. King-McCracken was riding passenger in the U-haul.

Law enforcement officials discovered over 100 dogs and one cat in the truck, and WTKR describes the conditions of the animals as "deplorable." Four or five animals were squeezed into makeshift animal carriers without food and water, and some dogs were running free within the non-ventilated truck. The Press-Telegram reports "officers noted urine and feces all over the cargo compartment and located no food or water provided to the animals." The minivan housed 25 dogs in similar neglectful conditions. Photos of the animals are viewable here.

Both women were arrested and charged with 128 counts of aggravated animal cruelty with bond set at $100,000 each. Additional charges are expected, including transporting animals under inhumane conditions. Their court appearance is slated for January 24.

The nonprofit recently relocated to Roanoke, Virginia, and the women were en route from Long Beach to the new shelter with the canines and cat.

Sheehan frequented the Long Beach Marina farmer's market and other events to promote adoption of the animals.

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By Lauren Lloyd in News on January 17, 2012 5:00 PM 0 Comments

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snoozi

You know that website called google? Look up about the animals to find out if they can be adopted. What layman on here would know????? I agree, it sounds like these women were more than just rescuing dogs, you don't transport like they did if they had ANY humane sense! Deplorablre conditions, stuffed in a mini van being TOWED by the U-Haul. Come on, I'm suspecting there is a bit of fraud/ripping off/getting donations for ????? Not to buy kennels to transport dogs! I know someone who paid $150.00 the day after Christmas for one of the dogs. It was very timid, and not your normal acting puppy. They took the puppy back and got conned into just donating the $150.00. I smell something fishy! People neet to get your animals fixed so they don't have so many puppies/cats that can't be given away! Feeding Feral cats should be a crime. they should be caught, see if they can be adoptable, and fixed so they don't produce more strays. Alot of them carry diesases. So you dumpster goers and Dump-Masters running the joints, do us all a favor and catch them so they don't keep reproducing MORE diseased ferral cats. And, just for the record, humans are ABOVE pets. My dog bites someone, that will be the first and last time. No human life is on a dogs level. I would NEVER take a second chance on a dog biting/tearing up a child or any person. My husband got bit by a customers dog, didn't want to turn it in, but guess what, the Doctor had to, it's the law!He ended up with an infection that ran up his arm from the bite within 24 hours. I told him, think about this, that dog supposidly had never biten anyone before...what if you didn't report it, and that dog ran after a little innocent neighborhood child and ripped them apart. How would you feel then? Now, keep your panties on, I didn't say the dog needed to be put down, but he should Never BE TRUSTED again. I think these women are sketchy, and who knows, those dogs could be stolen and then sold for profit.
$100,000.00 bond or bail for each, that is not a small fee. I'm thinking there is more to this story than known so far.Just saying.......

Red

awful....maybe in their minds they were doing a good thing. I have seen horse rescue places that I
wondered who would rescue them from that hell. Spay and Neuter your pets!!!!!!!!! Humans are cruel, not all, but most.