Colbert County Animal Shelter
COLBERT COUNTY – Things were getting out of hand this morning (Friday) at the Animal Shelter. At one point over 100 people were standing around at the facility, hoping to adopt one of the pomeranian or Yorkshire terriers. Thursday there had been some rumors, some from media outlets, that the dogs rescued from deplorable conditions at a Barton puppy mill would be available for adoption.
“I came over from Mississippi, and the guy inside (the Shelter building) said we couldn’t get us a dog,” said a woman who asked not to be named. The situation was getting out of hand, some pushing and shoving within the crowd, so the Shelter was closed until Monday.
They came to the Animal Shelter to take home a puppy. No Luck.
The animals were never to be offered for adoption at this early point, a Shelter employee told The Quad-Cities Daily. She said it is a usual and customary practice that rescued animals are evaluated for health condition and are held for a time before anything like adoptions can take place. She said, however, that there are plenty of dogs and cats in the Shelter that are ready for someone to give a home.
This all started when, earlier this week, Animal Control Officers and Sheriff’s Deputies discovered almost 130 puppies at the house on U.S. 72 in Barton. The dogs were said to have been living in deplorable conditions. Some were found in cold, filthy cages without space to move about. According to investigators, a few of the puppies had their coats actually frozen to the floor due to the cold.
Debra Catledge – Booking Photo
Dabra Jane Catledge, 53, of Barton was arrested on multiple charges of animal cruelty. District Attorney Bryce Graham’s office indicated that there may be additional charges filed against Catledge, who is presently in Colbert County Jail awaiting a bond hearing.
