The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office arrested six individuals after several puppies died of parvovirus after being adopted out of a home on 5675 Archer Avenue.
According to a press release by the sheriff’s office and obtained by Voice For Us, Forsyth County Animal Services had been dealing with the arrestees since April 2023, when a puppy was sold from that location and later died from parvo.
On that occasion, all six individuals “were instructed not to adopt any other animals until the residence and other animals on scene were treated for parvovirus”, stated the release.
Instead, they all chose to ignore the warning and since then, four more puppies have died.
Two had to be humanely euthanized due to parvovirus in December 2023. The other two died in January 2024, on separate occasions. One of the two was euthanized and the other one was found dead on the front porch by Animal Services on January 11, 2024. On that day Animal Services had gone to the residence and in addition to the deceased dog on the porch, they also found and removed one dog who was extremely sick.
Forsyth County Animal Services say that after all six of them were warned several times to stop buying and selling animals, and after nearly a year of non-compliance, and several animal deaths, law enforcement was forced to get involved.
On January 12, 2024, a search warrant was obtained for the residence for the removal of all animals.
As stated in the release: “Upon execution of the search warrant, the residence was observed in extreme filth and disarray, with trash, feces, and urine throughout the home. Dogs were in cages, 2 per cage, [without] water as the residence did not have running water. A total of 12 dogs and two bearded dragons were seized during the search warrant.”
The rescued Voiceless Victims are currently receiving medical care at the Forsyth County Pet Resource Center (formerly the Animal Shelter).
On January 16, 2024, detectives learned that two of the six residents had each adopted a puppy via Facebook.
The sheriff’s office said despite the multiple warnings, and knowing how dangerously contagious parvo is, all the six individuals have continued to bring animals into the home. “the residents of the household maliciously and with intent, failed to provide sanitary conditions and medical treatment to the animals living within the residence to the extent it resulted in the death of five animals”, stated the release.
Arrest warrants were obtained for:
· 22-years-old SHEYANN BELLE-EDWARDS (pictured), for Aggravated Cruelty to Animals and four counts of Cruelty to Animals.
· 24-years-old HANNAH RENE GLENN (pictured), for four counts of Cruelty to Animals.
· 34-years-old JONATHAN LEE JAGNEAUX (pictured), for Cruelty to Animals.
· 28-years-old LASHIA LEEANN SAMPLES (pictured), for five counts Cruelty to Animals.
· 18-years-old KIARA WALLIS (pictured), for 2 counts of Cruelty to Animals.
· 28-years-old EMILY GRACE WILGUS (pictured), for three counts of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals and two counts of Cruelty to Animals.
They were all transported to the Forsyth County Jail and according to online records, only WALLIS is no longer in custody.
The sheriff’s office said the two puppies adopted over the weekend along with a cat were seized by animal control.
Forsyth County Community & Animal Safety Director Jerry Ramos said in a statement: “The Animal Services team worked quickly to respond to the alleged case and partnered with the Sheriff's Office for the investigation as quickly as possible once the severity of the situation was apparent. We feel that the reason we were able to rescue as many animals as we did was because of the great partnership between Animal Services, the Pet Resource Center and the Sheriff’s Office.”
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