02/10/2022
For Immediate Release
Chad Brooks, Chief Deputy
Pickens County Sheriff’s Office
Pickens County Sheriff’s Office Seizes in Excess of 100 Dogs
The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office has charged a Pickens County woman following an investigation into an alleged “puppy mill” at 281 Tater Hill Mountain Road in Pickens, South Carolina.
On Monday, February 7th, 2022, the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office’s Animal Enforcement Unit initiated an investigation into a complaint of animal neglect at 281 Tater Hill Mountain Road in Pickens, South Carolina. Animal Enforcement Deputies immediately responded to the location and attempted to make contact with the property owner. While at the residence, deputies observed several well-fed dogs living in poor conditions and could see further down the property that there were additional dogs living in kennels. Therefore, on the morning of Tuesday, February 8th, 2022, Deputies with the Animal Enforcement Unit returned to the property and executed a search warrant to document the living conditions of the animals.
The findings of the search were presented before a judge on Wednesday, February 9th, 2022, and warrants were issued on Judith Lynn Brown (68 YOA) for two counts of Ill-Treatment of Animals – 1st Offense and one count of Animal/Rabies Control Chapter Violation. Brown, who cooperated through the course of the investigation, turned herself into the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office’s Detention Center on February 9th, 2022.
On February 10th, 2022, Animal Enforcement Deputies with the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the Pickens County Animal Shelter, Pickens County Building Maintenance, Anderson County Paws, and the Charleston Animal Society, removed one hundred and sixty-six (166) dogs from the property. The dogs have since been transported to the Pickens County Animal Shelter and other area shelters, where they will be held pending a disposition of the criminal case.
Sheriff Rick Clark stated, “I would like to thank the Pickens County Animal Shelter, Pickens County Building Maintenance, Anderson County Paws, and the Charleston Animal Society for assisting our deputies with the removal and placement of the animals. It is a testament to what teamwork and cohesion can accomplish when agencies work together. The amount of time, effort, and resources that are tied up in these types of cases cannot be understated, but I am grateful for the dedication of our Animal Enforcement Deputies and the other entities that came to our assistance to ensure the wellbeing of these animals.”
Pickens County Administrator Ken Roper said, “We want to thank the Pickens County Sheriff’s Animal Enforcement Unit, led by Lt. Anthony Raines, for their unprecedented work in this concerning case. How a society treats its most vulnerable creatures speaks volumes, and we are so heartened by the assistance from other counties such as Anderson and Charleston as we deal with the influx of these precious animals that are now in our care.”
Charge: Warrant: Bond: Arrest Date:
Ill-Treatment of Animals 2022A3910100104 $10,000 (PR) 02/09/2022
Ill-Treatment of Animals 2022A3910100105 $10,000 (PR) 02/09/2022
Rabies Control Chapter Violation 2022A3910100107 $500 (PR) 02/09/2022
Copies of the Arrest Warrants and a mug shot have been attached to this release.
###