UPDATE: Sheriff’s office seeks public’s help with dogs at suspected dog-fighting farm
Published 3:19 pm Tuesday, November 7, 2017
1 of 22
Overlooking the scene where several dogs are chained up within feet of one another, some of which are unable to reach water.
A skull is one of many dog bones found in what the Natchez Adams County Sheriffs office referred to as “The bone yard” Tuesday on Tommie Queen’s property in the Cranfiled community.
One of the dogs covered in mud and missing the front left paw walks on three legs while being chained up to a trailer on Tommie Queen’s property Tuesday in the Cranfield community.
An aged skull is one of many dog bones found in what the Natchez Adams County Sheriffs office referred to as “The bone yard” Tuesday on Tommie Queen’s property in the Cranfiled community.
A dog is chained to the back of an SUV with the bumper sticker portraying two praying children next to a cross.
One of the dogs with a chewed off jaw barks while being tied up in the front lawn of Tommie Queen’s property in November 2017 in the Cranfield community, where one of the county's largest dogfighting rings was found. This dog was later euthanized due to the extent of its injuries. (Democrat file photo)
A bow-legged dog is chained up on Tommie Queen’s property Tuesday in the Cranfield community.
Overlooking the scene where several dogs are chained up within feet of one another, some of which are unable to reach water.
Two dogs chained together on the property of Tommie Queen in the Cranfield community.
A dog chained to a stake watch officers passing through the property of Tommie Queen in the Cranfield community.
A dog lays in the dirt covered in puncture wounds at Tommie Queen's property in the Cranfield Community.
One of the dogs covered in mud and missing the front left paw walks on three legs while being chained up to a trailer on Tommie Queen’s property Tuesday in the Cranfield community.
The skull of full-size dog and what appears to be a puppy lie next to one another in what officer's are calling the "boneyard."
A vertebrae is one of many dog bones found in what the Natchez Adams County Sheriffs office referred to as “The boneyard” Tuesday on Tommie Queen’s property in the Cranfield community.
A dog sits next to a pile of food, offered by the Natchez Adams County Sheriffs office Tuesday at Tommie Queen’s property in the Cranfield community.
Torn flesh reviles a broken leg on one of the animals on Tommie Queen’s property Tuesday in the Cranfield community.
A dog lays in the dirt covered in puncture wounds at Tommie Queen's property in the Cranfield Community.
The Adams County Sheriff's Office deputies are trying to locate Tommie Queen for questioning. Queen is listed as the owner of the property and investigators believe he may be responsible.
Dozens of dogs, many injured or dead, were discovered in a suspected dog-fighting farm in Adams County Monday evening.
Dozens of dogs, many injured or dead, were discovered in a suspected dog-fighting farm in Adams County Monday evening.
Dozens of dogs, many injured or dead, were discovered in a suspected dog-fighting farm in Adams County Monday evening.
NATCHEZ — Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten sent out a plea for help Tuesday afternoon to area veterinarians.
After deputies discovered what appears to be a dog-fighting farm with nearly 60 dogs many with severe injuries, Patten said he has no place to house the animals and efforts to seek expert help have not materialized as quickly as he had hoped.
“I need our local people to help us,” he said. “The conditions out here are horrible. We are pleading for help right now.”
Patten said local veterinarian Dr. Robbie Savant had agreed to take five of the worst animals into his care.
“He stepped up to the plate for us,” Patten said.
The sheriff said he hopes other regional veterinarians can do the same.
“We need veterinarians to help us,” he said. “I need them to step up and help. “We need veterinarians,” he said. Some of these dogs will have to be euthanized, but some can be saved.”
Otherwise, Patten said, he does not have a good place to house the animals.
“I’m trying to get some more cages down here,” he said. “We’re going to have to house these dogs for a while.”
Patten said citizens who wish to help are asked to donate money to the sheriff’s office so they can purchase dog food and either buy or build a place to house the animals as the investigation proceeds.
Patten said he has been in touch with people from the national humane society as well as the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals seeking help.
“One of the experts said they’re prepared to handle this and they would be overwhelmed by the amount of animals we’re dealing with,” Patten said.
Patten said it’s possible the sheriff’s office may have to build some kind of temporary housing facility.
“If people could give us funds and some supplies, we could use inmate labor to build a temporary facility to house these dogs,” Patten said. “If someone will step up and donate some 2x4s and some concrete and some fencing we could make something.”
Any veterinarians who would volunteer to foster or member of the public who wish to donate funds to care for the animals are asked to call 601-442-2752.
“We need the funds,” Patten said. “We need to take care of these dogs.”
For now, the hungry dogs are still chained in the dirty pits.