‘Bred for greed’: NC deputies take over 170 dogs from home where dozens seized before

Chatham County deputies returned to a Bear Creek home with another search warrant Tuesday to seize more than 170 dogs, a little over a week after taking 44 dogs from the owner.

A second person was charged with animal cruelty in connection with Tuesday’s rescue.

Some of the rescued dogs are pregnant, rescue officials said at a news conference Tuesday. Five dogs, including four puppies, were found dead, in addition to six dogs that were found dead in a Jan. 25 seizure.

Additional dogs could be found as the investigation continues, Chatham County Sheriff Mike Roberson said.

Deputies returned Tuesday to the home on Oakley Church Road “in response to ongoing concerns regarding the welfare of dogs at the same location,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. The dogs include schnauzers, mini-schnauzers and various breeds, who were “living in deplorable conditions at an alleged puppy mill,” the release said.

How to help the dogs

Animal rescue groups will treat the dogs for medical problems and keep them until the cases against the owners can be heard in court. The rescue groups are working with partner organizations to eventually place the dogs for adoption.

People who want to donate or volunteer to help the dogs can go to animalrescuecorps.org and bissellpetfoundation.org.

Kim Alboum, director of field operations for the Bissell Pet Foundation, encouraged people who want to adopt to visit their local animal shelter, “rather than purchase from a situation like this.”

“If you are considering purchasing a pet, we really ask that people go and visit the property, because situations like this are out there and if it feels wrong when you’re visiting a property, when you’re purchasing a pet, it is wrong, and you should report it to your local law enforcement and walk away,” Alboum said.

Owners charged with animal cruelty

The owner of most of the dogs, Alicia Dawn Culberson, 36, was charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty after the initial search on Jan. 25. Culberson is not facing additional charges at this time, Roberson said, but the investigation is continuing.

On Tuesday, deputies also charged Kelly Dawn Privat, 48, with 10 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty.

Privat, who Roberson said owned about 50 of the dogs, was taken to the Chatham County jail on $10,000 bail. She is scheduled to appear in Chatham County District Court on Feb. 26. Culberson is scheduled for a March 13 hearing.

The Sheriff’s Office learned about the situation in September after receiving complaints of “distressing sounds” from the animals, deputies said. Roberson said his office has been working with Culberson since September to try and resolve the issues, but it had gotten worse.

Animal cruelty charges were filed in the past at that address, Roberson said, but his department has tried to “have compassion for the people that are in these situations.”

“As we tried to help this person get out of there, they couldn’t see a way to get out of this, and as more and more animals are being born, the more the conditions are getting worse,” he said.

Deputies were only able to seize some of the animals in January, because the local animal shelter only has room for 50 dogs, he said. They contacted the animal welfare organization Bissell Pet Foundation and Animal Rescue Corps, a national nonprofit, after realizing the severity of the situation, he said.

A state-licensed veterinarian, animal rescue professionals and volunteers from several states, and about 25 Chatham County deputies and animal resources staff worked together to rescue the dogs Tuesday.

What the NC deputies found

Dozens of dogs “in life-threatening conditions” were found living without adequate housing and surrounded by several inches of urine and feces, said Tim Woodward, executive director of Animal Rescue Corp.

At least 10 dogs were found dead, including puppies, and others that experienced severe neglect and were exposed for long periods to high levels of ammonia, said Kim Alboum, director of field operations for the BISSELL Pet Foundation.

Dogs were suffering life-threatening medical conditions, including dehydration, malnutrition, parasites, untreated injuries and illnesses, severe matting and skin conditions, she said. Their “housing is absolutely egregious,” with “very unsafe” levels of ammonia, requiring responders to wear respirators to protect themselves, said Alboum, who lives in Chatham County.

The situation was “completely avoidable,” she said, while expressing gratitude for the law enforcement response.

“It was just overall a very heartbreaking situation, and one that is not uncommon to us here in North Carolina,” she said.

‘A crisis for any animal shelter’

Animal Rescue Corps is overseeing the rescue and will shelter, treat and care for the dogs, while BISSELL Pet Foundation, its Animal Incident Management group and volunteer work to remove the dogs and seek funding for their care.

The dogs will be moved to an undisclosed rescue facility to receive immediate medical, physical and social care.

“A seizure of this size and magnitude is a crisis for any animal shelter,” said Cathy Bissell, founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “We applaud the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office and Animal Resources for addressing this egregious case of neglect and cruelty. These animals have been bred for greed with no regard for their health or welfare.”

The Sheriff’s Office takes “animal cruelty very seriously,” and will fully enforce state laws against those who are responsible, Roberson said.

“We’re also grateful for the assistance of BISSELL Pet Foundation and Animal Rescue Corps in helping address this situation. Together, as a community, we will work to ensure a safe and compassionate environment for all, human and animal alike.”