Over 2 Dozen Dogs Found Dead in Backyard Pile, Others Found Alive at Alabama Home: Sheriff

Authorities called to possible animal cruelty at a home in central Alabama discovered more than two dozen dead dogs in the backyard, as well as 24 living dogs inside the residence, a sheriff’s office said.

The dogs found alive are now available for adoption, Us Weekly has learned.

A “concerned citizen” called authorities about the dogs the morning of Monday, January 12, according to a news release shared that day by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama.

As a result, three people living at the Beauregard home have been arrested, the sheriff’s office said. Beauregard is a community located about a 60-mile drive northeast from Montgomery.

When deputies and investigators arrived at the home, they found the bodies of about 29 adult dogs and puppies, which were inside plastic bags and had been tossed in the backyard, according to the office.

Twenty-four more dogs, which were alive, were located inside the home, the sheriff’s office said.

The living dogs “appeared emaciated,” according to authorities.

Three people at the home, Curtis Dewayne Haralson, Patricia Ann Sims, and Tiffany Ann Sims, were arrested in connection with the investigation and taken to the Lee County Jail, the sheriff’s office said.

Haralson, 63, Patricia Sims, 54, and Tiffany Sims, 27, will likely be charged with felony offenses, according to the office.

Information on whether they had retained legal counsel was not immediately available.

The sheriff’s office said that Lee County Animal Control also arrived at the home and “took possession of the live animals.”

The sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to an inquiry and request for comment from Us.

Lee County Chief Animal Control Officer Lisa Wimberley told Us on Tuesday, January 13 that the 24 dogs are now in the care of The Animal Health Center of Opelika, where “they have the animals posted for adoption.”

The animal center shared photos of the dogs in a January 13 Facebook post.

“As many people now know, these 24 incredible dogs were rescued from a local case of cruelty and neglect—and now they need you,” the animal center wrote.

“They’ve survived so much, and with the right homes, fosters, and support, they can finally experience the love they deserve.”

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office asks anyone with information on the investigation into the dogs found at the Beauregard home to contact the agency at 334-749-5651 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867).

The Alabama incident comes after Arizona authorities recently brought criminal charges against self-described dog breeder John Lewis Kai, who was accused of abusing several dogs at his apartment in Maricopa County, Us previously reported.

According to court documents obtained by Us, officers with Phoenix police and the Humane Society found two dead dogs, and nine other dogs that were said to be underweight with matted fur.

Another dog was found dead outside Kai’s apartment, in a dumpster, police said.

Authorities were initially alerted to Kai after some of his tenants reported hearing barking and yelping from two apartments, which they said Kai had transformed into one living space, court documents say. Law enforcement were also tipped off about a deceased dog.

The concerned tenants told police that Kai, 53, was breeding the dogs for sale, Us reported.

When officers visited Kai’s combined apartment on December 19, they found feces, urine, and that Kai had not provided his animals with drinking water, court papers viewed by Us state.

Authorities arrested Kai on December 23 on 16 counts of animal cruelty.

Kai reportedly told law enforcement he became “overwhelmed” with the dogs, Us reported. He allegedly claimed that the three dogs, which authorities found dead, had died because of parvovirus.

If you know of or suspect animal abuse or neglect, you are urged to contact the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals through their website or call your local animal control officer.