Coys plead not guilty to animal abuse charges

State Journal staff report Published:

A couple charged with animal cruelty has been ordered to surrender their animals to the Franklin County Humane Society – even their two goldfish.

William and Sandra Coy were arraigned by video today in Franklin District Court on more than 20 charges of animal cruelty after law enforcement found “deplorable” conditions at the Coys’ Saint Johns Road home Friday.

Both pleaded not guilty.

Franklin District Judge Chris Olds ordered the Coys to surrender their remaining animals, which include pit bulls, pigs, a horse and alpacas, to the Humane Society. Deputies seized 19 dogs and four birds from the home Friday.

Sandra Coy, 55, and William Coy, 48, both said they did not completely understand the charges against them.

“I have no home, I have nothing … you’ve taken my animals, you’ve taken my home,” Sandra Coy said by video from Franklin County Regional Jail.

Humane Society Shelter Manager Nancy Benton attended the arraignment and said the shelter is accepting donations to care for the animals.

Comments

Signed in as

By Posting to this site, you agree to our Terms of Service. Be polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed. The State Journal doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post.

Want to leave your comments?

Sign in or Register to comment.

  • nicely said anonymous_672...Please donate $$ and/or food to FC HS...if you can find it in your heart to ADOPT so as it would easy their overcrowding due to this situation....and talk to the lawmakers about stiffer laws..

  • This is classic animal hoarding behavior: not understanding the problem. I hope the court prohibits them from any future animal ownership and gets them both mental help.

  • How many more animals have to suffer at the hands of the Coys? They have been charged in multiple counties with animal cruelty, basically removed from Larue Co altogether, had their animals removed by law enforcement and animal control because of deplorable conditions and horrifying abuse and still they are free to own & abuse more and more animals as we stand by and let it happen. Wake up people! Kentucky needs animal cruelty laws with a BITE not a slap on the wrist time and again as if nothing happened! Please support the shelter and volunteers working diligently to save these animals with your donations and help! And most of all please support strengthening Kentucky's wimpy animal neglect/abuse laws through our legislature.