Nate's Honor Animal Rescue in Manatee takes in 38 abused dogs from Georgia cruelty case

MANATEE -- Nate's Honor Animal Rescue has taken in 38 abused dogs after they were confiscated from a 78-year-old Georgia man facing criminal charges.

Karen Slomba, associate director of Nate's Honor Animal Rescue, said Nate's took in a little more than half of the total 72 dogs taken from the property. She said the dogs are in bad shape physically and mentally.

"They have bite wounds on their faces because they had to fight for their food," Slomba said. "Mentally, they're completely shut down. They're very scared. When we first got them, our staff couldn't take them on leashes. They had to be carried."

Slomba also said they were infested with parasites and their teeth are in horrible condition, but luckily they were not as malnourished as the rescue staff thought they would be given their living conditions.

The animals were taken last week from Jerry McLeod in Brooks County, Ga., according to a news release. He is facing three counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, 69 counts of cruelty to animals, six counts of obstruction of officers, 72 counts of failure to comply with rabies vaccinations, 72 counts of animals running at large, 10 counts of dogs running at large while in heat, 72 counts of keeping of sick/diseased animals and 72 counts of lack of proper shelter requirements.

"They were in deplorable conditions," said Thomasville, Ga., veterinarian Beckey Malphus, "None of the dogs were spayed or neutered. Multiple dogs were housed in enclosures with no food or water and very little ventilation."

Because of lack of food, old, weak canines were devoured by other dogs, said Malphus, adding, "It's survival of the fittest."

The local animal shelter was overwhelmed with the amount of dogs and reached out to Nate's for help.

Slomba said the new dogs have taken them over their typical capacity of up to 70 dogs to more than 100, but it's an issue they have dealt with before.

"We can split the kennels in half to double," Slomba said, adding those looking to help can always donate cash or supplies such as bleach, wet dog and puppy food, paper towels, dish and laundry soap.

They are also "always, always, always" looking for volunteers and foster homes.

Slomba said it would greatly help if people could adopt dogs now available at the shelter. Some of the Georgia dogs will be available for adoption as early as Saturday and range in age from 3 months to 8 or 9 years old.

Slomba said she expects the animals will all return to full physical and mental health.

"We learned from the Napier's case that these animals are so resilient," Slomba said, referring to a case when 300 ill and abused animals were taken off a Manatee County property in 2014. "It's amazing what working and playing with these animals for a couple weeks will do for them. They become completely different."

This story was originally published March 25, 2016 at 11:13 PM with the headline "Nate's Honor Animal Rescue in Manatee takes in 38 abused dogs from Georgia cruelty case ."