We will list Articles from newspapers on this page, they could be letters to the editor and newspaper articles about animals throughout S.C. If you have a story you saw in the paper, please send it to us and we will list it if it will help the animals in any way.

We will do our best to follow the cases listed below and give updates.

NOTICE:

On June 26, 2006 Roderick Baccus was arrested and charged with Cruelty to Animals 3 Counts, he is scheduled for trial on Monday, December 10,2007 at 9:00 A.M. in the courtroom at City Hall, 400 Pearl Street Darlington, S.C.

Update on Baccus case: He decided not to stand trail and thus paid a fine of $1395.00, that is a fine of $465.00 per dog.

Erick Simon 30 years old faces two counts if ill treatment to animals and one count of dog fighting. Simon is out of jail on a $50,000 bond. Also arrested in connection with the dog fighting bust in Darlingotn County is Michael Robinson and Wesley Truett, both are being charged with animal fighting and baiting. The Attorney General's Office is expected to take this case. Truett and Robinson are both out of jail on bond.

Update on dogfighting case: Thursday afternoon, May 28th, 2009.

A jury found two Darlington County men not guilty of dog fighting.
In 2007, deputies charged Michael Robinson and Wesley Truett with animal fighting and baiting. It took the jury about an hour to find the two not guilty.

For more on the dog fighting bust go to TV 15 website at wpde.com and do a search.

Four arrested in drug, dogfighting investigation
Published: February 27, 2009 in the Morning News Paper

HARTSVILLE — About 10 pit bulls have been seized and four people have been arrested in connection with an apparent dogfighting operation discovered late Friday afternoon in Darlington County.
Deputies responded to a mobile home at 1619 Patrick Highway about 5 p.m. Friday, Darlington County Sheriff’s Sgt. Charles Wright said. They found the dogs, as well as the four suspects and about $5,000 in crack cocaine, marijuana and cash, there. Deputies also seized several handguns and a high-powered rifle from the residence.
Although the dogs are in good condition, investigators believe they were being bred to fight because of the conditions on the property and because they were being fed high-quality, high-protein food, Wright said.
The Darlington County Humane Society has been contacted to take care of the dogs, he said.
James Barrett, 38, of 1619 Patrick Highway; Triston Wesley, 28, of Bishopville; Kendrick Wesley, 20, and Kentrey Wesley, 18, both of Hartsville are each charged with possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute, Wright said,
Kendrick and Kentrey Wesley are brothers; Triston Wesley is their cousin, the sergeant said.
All four suspects were taken to the Darlington County Detention Center, where they will be held pending bond hearings.
Additional charges and arrests are possible as the investigation continues, Wright said.
Under South Carolina law, any person who owns an animal for the purpose of fighting or baiting, is a party to any fighting or baiting of any animal, or obtains the use of any structure for the purpose of fighting or baiting any animal is guilty of a felony and upon conviction must be punished by a fine of $5,000 or five years in prison, or both.
The law also provides for seizure and forfeiture of animals used in fighting operations.

Animal control officers arrested
By TIM GULLA & LARRY HILLIARD Ledger Staff Writers Published: December 19, 2008 in the Gaffney Ledger

Three men who worked at the Cherokee County Combined Animal Shelter inflicted unnecessary pain when euthanizing animals, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division charged Wednesday.

A SLED investigation that began May 12 into complaints about how animals were being put to sleep resulted in arrest warrants being served Wednesday afternoon on former animal control officer Michael Pearson, who resigned from the office last June; Donnie Ray Crowe, who was assigned to another post on Wednesday; and Gaffney Police Department animal control officer Dewayne Fowler. read full story

Update on Animal Control Case: Pearson, Crowe and Fowler were all found guilty and fined 237.00 each.

Animal Control Officers Fired

Published June 2, 2007 in the Orangeburg paper

The Orangeburg County Animal Control program's manager (Eddie Haigler, Jr.) and four of its officers were fired Friday amid a state investigation into the way they did their jobs, County Administrator Bill Clark announced Friday.

Quoting from his termination letter to the employees, Clark said, "The reason for your termination is your failure to properly administer euthanasia protocols in the manner prescribed under the laws of the state of South Carolina."