A former Franklin County animal control officer had 13 pit bull dogs seized from his property Thursday for alleged animal cruelty.
For Derrick Rayborn, 29, of 4010 St. Johns Road, it was the second time in nine months a large number of pit bulls were seized from him by current county Animal Control Officer Todd Moore.
According to Franklin County District Court records, Rayborn was served a summons in March 2007 on a charge of second-degree cruelty to animals. The criminal complaint signed by Moore said 16 dogs owned by Rayborn appeared to be "mistreated, malnourished or otherwise neglected."
Another court document, a March 2007 statement from veterinarian Gina Yeargan, said she accompanied Moore to 4010 St. Johns Road.
"I was able to view eight pit bull dogs from the road " one whose ribs were visible but had muscling on rear legs, hips and one whose body was hidden by its dog house," Yeargan's statement said. "The other six were extremely emaciated, three of which appeared weak by their stature and gait. This condition definitely constitutes cruelty to animals."
Twelve of those pit bull mix dogs were taken to the Franklin County Humane Society's animal shelter for temporary lodging.
"One of the dogs had to be euthanized because she ended up with a prolapsed uterus," said Regina Mitchell, manager of the animal shelter, Friday.
Then on June 6, 2007, District Judge Guy Hart signed an agreed order in which the dogs seized in the investigation were to be released to Rayborn. One condition in the order was that Rayborn would allow "Franklin County law enforcement, including but not limited to animal control, to inspect the animals" on his property "at any time without prior notification."
That animal cruelty case is still pending in district court. A pretrial conference is set for Wednesday and the trial is scheduled later in January.
Mitchell said Moore brought 13 pit bulls, belonging to Rayborn, to the animal shelter Thursday " 10 new ones and three that had been previously lodged at the shelter.
"When the animals came in the first time, we de-wormed them and nursed them back to health," Mitchell said Friday. "You get attached to these animals. They had gained weight and were happy. What hurts so much is they were returned to the person who did this to them the first time. Then we get them back in a worse condition than they were previously. They look horrible.
"I feel I have failed the animals by not making sure everything was right. But that's something I have no control over. We can only house them and take care of them while they are here at the shelter."
Franklin County Attorney Rick Sparks said Friday a new complaint has been presented to his office, and it's being investigated. But no charges had been filed as of Friday afternoon.
Mitchell said the dogs being returned to the shelter also take up critical space. They have to be put in separate cages, she said, "because they fight when they're put together."
She said the shelter could use donations of puppy food, which provides more vitamins and nutrients, and canned dog food, so they will eat more. "We're feeding them two to three times a day," she said.
Neither Rayborn nor his attorney, Chris Olds, could be reached for comment Saturday.