Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Severe animal neglect - groomer charged

Severe animal neglect - groomer charged
Albany, GA (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Dec 21, 2004
County: Dougherty
Local Map: available
Disposition: Convicted

Abuser/Suspect: Steve Morgan

Case Updates: 5 update(s) available

Case ID: 3453

Classification: Neglect / Abandonment

Animal: dog (non pit-bull)

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Suspect was in animal welfare field

Officers reportedly found rows of kennels in unsanitary conditions, filthy animals and dog skeletons in a Terrell County home on Billy Martin Road. A sheriff's deputy and animal control officer investigated after complaints last week.

"Upon that request the deputy and I came to the property and located several animals that were not being not taken care of as well as they should be," said Martha Ann Coe, director of Animal Control.

"There was no evidence of food or water," Coe said. "There was no shelter for four that were in the backyard. We did find one on that back door step that was barely breathing."

That dog was a Chihuahua, who died before they got him to the vet. The alleged cause was starvation and hypothermia.

The man charged is Steve Morgan, owner of Puddle Jumpers, an Albany pet grooming business. After closing Tuesday night, a small horse was fenced in next to the business on Stuart Avenue.

"I don't know anything personally about his business in Albany. I do know that he has a business in Albany, but a lot of animals are here in Terrell County," Coe said.

In all, Terrell County is caring for nine of Morgan's dogs. As for the rest of his livestock, a neighbor has been feeding them and the state Department of Agriculture has examined them.

"The Equine Division was here in Terrell County yesterday afternoon and we'll analyze the horses and we'll go from that point." Morgan may face more charges.

Case Updates

The judge sentenced Steve Morgan to 18 months jail time, 78 months probation, during which he is to have no contact with animals.
He will also have to pay a $2000.00 fine, plus court costs, and restitution. Patti Greene says, "Maybe it would send a message to people out there. Make them think twice before doing something like this."

Morgan owns Puddle Jumpers, a pet grooming service in Albany. A former customer spoke before sentencing today, saying his animals were treated excellently, but Morgan was tried for the way he treated his own pets, not those of customers. Lucie Beeley says, "You can't blame that on ignorance. I believe that you hold him to a higher standard of care, than you would even a typical pet owner, because he understands the difference in what a dog looks like and these dogs were in very very poor shape." In fact, two of the dogs died. "There was one little dog that they picked up, that we never saw, that passed away immediately." Another died several months later, due to advanced heart worms. Lucie Beeley believes Morgan's sentence is fair, but that his access to animals should be restricted beyond his probation period. She says, "I don't think that Mr. Morgan deserves to be around animals ever again, without supervision, because it's clear to me that he should not own animals. He is not capable of taking care of them in the proper manner and I don't think that he should be allowed to own pets ever."

Morgan's lawyer plans to appeal. Morgan's bond was set at $10,000. He was taken into custody today. Even if he bonds out, he is not allowed to return to his shop.

Source: WALB News - March 29, 2006
Update posted on May 6, 2006 - 4:36AM

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An Albany pet groomer is found guilty of eight counts of animal cruelty. A Terrell County jury deliberated less than two hours before finding Steve Morgan guilty of misdemeanor animal cruelty.

Morgan, the owner of Puddle Jumpers Pet Grooming, was charged with mistreating dogs, horses, goats, sheep, ducks, and chickens on his Terrell County property.

Two dogs died from what prosecutors termed "mistreatment."

Morgan will be sentenced March 29th. He could face up to a year behind bars.

Source: WALB - March 16, 2006
Update posted on Mar 18, 2006 - 2:08PM

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Testimony is underway in the animal cruelty trial of an Albany pet groomer. Steve Morgan is charged with ten misdemeanors.

Prosecutors say they found rows of filthy kennels at Morgan's Terrell County home December 23, 2004.

Veterinarian technicians who treated the pets, neighbors, Humane Society officials, and the Animal Control Director all testified Tuesday.

Two dogs died, and eight others are still being kept at foster homes.

His trial is expected to last until Thursday.

Source: WALB - March 14, 2006
Update posted on Mar 16, 2006 - 12:20AM

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Albany pet groomer is now charged with ten counts of animal cruelty for mistreating or neglecting his own pets.

A Terrell County grand jury indicted Steve Morgan on the felony counts. He owns Puddle Jumpers in Albany.

Last December, a Terrell County's Sheriff's Deputy and code enforcement officer found rows of kennels they said were unsanitary, filthy animals, and even dog skeletons.

The county confiscated ten live dogs found at Morgan's home. One died on the way to the vet.

Source: walb.com - June 10, 2005
Update posted on Jun 10, 2005 - 7:08PM

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Morgan is asking a Terrell County judge to return those pets. It could be several weeks before the judge makes a decision. Morgan is the owner of Puddle Jumpers, an Albany pet grooming business. Investigators say, some of his pets were severely malnourished and living in unsanitary conditions.

Source: WALB - March 31, 2005
Update posted on Apr 1, 2005 - 10:44AM

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WALB Albany - Dec 28, 2004

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Severe animal neglect - groomer chargedAlbany, GA (US)

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Severe animal neglect - groomer charged
Albany, GA (US)