In Harrison County, Kentucky, the Harrison County Flora Shropshire Animal Shelter has been investigating the discovery of an emaciated and terribly neglected dog. Last week the shelter brought in a severely neglected and emaciated dog allegedly found lying on Gray’s Run Road.
The dog’s body temperature had been too low to record on a thermometer. His body weight was only 48 pounds, a Mastiff breed should weigh over 100 pounds. The shelter named him Phoenix.
On Saturday, January 25, Phoenix passed.
After an investigation was launched, shelter director Jessica Carmon, discovered the story had been a lie. The owners of the dog had custody of him for months and according to Carmon, the owners “let him suffer and starved him to death.”
Based on information from the continued investigation, it appears Phoenix had been confined to a cage.
Read original coverage of this heartbreaking story here.
All of the reports and tips from our community have paid off! One responsible party has been charged in Scott County for the cruelty and torture that led to the death of our Phoenix! We must fight harder than before to make sure BOTH parties involved are charged and they are charged with a CLASS D FELONY after House Bill 258 became law in 2024. A misdemeanor is simply not enough!
Chesney Taylor of Georgetown has been cited on a charge of cruelty to animals second degree. Taylor had allegedly been the owner of Phoenix since September 2024, although she stated she only had the dog for a few days.
Community members are coming together and asking the charges to upgraded to felony torture and include all defendants:
We must fight harder than before to make sure BOTH parties involved are charged and they are charged with a CLASS D FELONY after House Bill 258 became law in 2024. A misdemeanor is simply not enough!
Here’s a link to the Scott County Attorney’s office to request that charges be upgraded to felony torture and include all defendants: https://scottcountyattorney.org/contact-us
The investigation continues. Information that will help in this case can be reported by calling (859) 234.7138.
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