CARROLLTON - On September 15, In Defense of Animals (IDA) was awarded custody of 12 severely neglected dogs.

Carroll County Justice Court Judge Jimmy Avant ruled against a claim that the Carroll County Sheriff's Department and IDA had gone beyond the scope of their seizure order when confiscating the dogs. The court ruled the dogs were lawfully seized.

The investigation was prompted by three complaints concerning the condition of the dogs.

On June 26, IDA's Project Hope sanctuary in Carroll County received two of the calls. Doll Stanley, IDA's Director of Investigations and the Project Hope sanctuary, responded.

"I saw emaciated dogs chained without proper shelter, their water blackened with filth, debris, and mosquito larvae,” Stanley said. “A few had dried bread and slop in their pans, two had molded slop in theirs. A hound was confined in a travel dog box for beagles and terriers. She could not sit or stand and the box was laden with filth. Another dog was confined in a feces-laden cage infested with maggots. The dogs had sores, matted eyes, and most suffered skin disorders.”

Initially, Judge Avant gave a warning and time to the owner of the dogs to correct their conditions.

IDA's Project Hope and veterinarians sent letters urging immediate action. On August 6, the judge asked Deputy Brad Carver to see if conditions for the dogs had improved. They hadn't, so a seizure order was issued, and IDA, acting as agent for the CCSO, removed the dogs on August 7.

The seizure took place on Carroll County Road 129.

According to IDA's Stanley, "When we returned on September 7 to remove the dogs, some had been loosed and others had been moved. We enticed and trapped the loose dogs with food. Then, learning the other dogs were moved beyond the residence we went for them. Two were chained in the midst of debris - one was the dog who'd been held in the transport box. The others were confined in what could only be described as pig wallow. Water, feces, and earth had combined to create a horrid confinement of black muck. Two of the rescuers became ill from the stench."

The owner of the dog failed to seek a hearing for their custody, and his son petitioned that the dogs were wrongly taken from the adjoining property.

Judge Avant found no credence to the property issue.