Siblings each charged with 25 counts of animal cruelty
Two Reelsville area residents — a brother and sister — have each been charged with 25 counts of animal cruelty after dozens of dogs in their care were found in “deplorable conditions” earlier this month.
Julia A. Gray, 60, and James M. Gray, 55, were each charged with 25 Class A misdemeanors after 34 dogs — mostly German shepherds but one rottweiler — were located on their property.
In court documents filed a week after the dogs were located, more details about the case came to light.
The case started when Animal Control Officer Kris Wallace responded to an animal welfare check on the property on Thursday, Sept. 8, finding a severely emaciated dog lying in a field.
Wallace contacted a local veterinarian, Dr. Brandon Miller, who took the dog into custody, but later had to put it down for its injuries.
With permission from the Grays, Wallace returned to the property with Maj. Dwight Simmons and Deputy Kyle Lee of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. The found and documented several dogs that were locked in cages, covered in feces and urine. They were reportedly emaciated and lacked access to food or water.
They also located a locked shed with no visible ventilation or air conditioning, inside of which several more dogs could be heard barking.
On Sept. 9, Cpl. Scott Ducker returned to the property with a search warrant. At that time, a total of 35 dogs were located, including 11 in the small shed, locked in small cages covered in urine and feces. One deceased dog was found in a cage, covered in flies.
Dr. Jason Huff, another local veterinarian, took three dogs into custody for emergency treatment.
Another five dogs were found in another shed in which the temperature showed at 96 degrees.
Another 19 were located around the property.
All dogs on the property except for a blue heeler that was allegedly a service dog, were found to be emaciated, smelling of urine and feces.
Neither of the Grays could provide valid immunization records for the animals.
An initial hearing for the Grays has been set for 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 5 before Putnam Superior Court Judge Denny Bridges.