- Tennessee, USA -
CHAD SMITH (pictured), employee of Main Street Animal Clinic in Oakland, and former
Fayette County Animal Control Officer is facing animal cruelty charges. SMITH worked with Fayette County Animal Control from February 2020 to May 2021 before he resigned.
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Department said the charges stem from the discovery of dozens of dogs' remains and six live ones in the backyard of a home on Hall Drive in Somerville on January 11, 2023.
Part of a Facebook post published by Main Street Animal Clinic on March 22, 2023, read: “As many of you have heard, one of our employees, Chad Smith, was arrested last night on multiple counts of animal abuse. When we hired Chad Smith, he was a beloved resident of Fayette County and was used by many animal rescue groups. We did not know of any harmful, neglectful, or suspicious activity by Chad prior to these allegations. We were truly shocked by these allegations as I think many people have been. If you have met Chad, he was always (friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to help) nothing ever alerted us for what he has been accused of.”
A spokesperson for the veterinary clinic emphasized that “Anyone who has called or been to our clinic since early February would know that Chad has NOT been there.”
Deputy Chief Garcia with the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department explained to WREG that it was landscape workers who made the gruesome discovery in the backyard. He said: “They had noticed there were a lot of kennels, there appeared to be a large number of bones around and they actually saw some dog carcasses there on the property.”
Six dogs were found alive, but the exact number of the deceased animals is unknown.
Deputy Chief Garcia further said: “Our investigators spent hours out there digging and locating bones there on the property.”
Investigators later determined the dogs died due to severe malnutrition and starvation and said that SMITH was in direct care and control of the animals and deprived them of food and water.
On Thursday, March 23, 2023, WREG went to the house of horror but no one opened the door. SMITH no longer lives there and he was arrested somewhere else in Fayette County.
SMITH, who now lives in Oakland, is charged with ten counts of aggravated animal cruelty but the number of counts may change as more forensic evidence comes up.
SMITH was released after posting a $50,000 bond!
Main Street Animal Clinic said: “Our top priority has, and always will be, the best service and care for pets and their pet families” and added: “The allegations against Chad Smith in no way reflects Main Street Animal Clinic’s morals, practices, or values and we hope you are able to see that.”
Through the clinic’s Facebook post, Jennifer Dunlap DVM advised:
1) “The handful of dogs found alive have already been traced back to their rescues/shelters of origin. And I cannot imagine the pain upon reading this if you were not one of the rescues or shelters we contacted and I'm so sorry.”
2) “If you have information regarding a dog that you placed with Chad Smith from January 2022- December 2022 please contact Investigator Salamon at 901-466-3918. Please use this number only if you have paperwork and photos regarding the dog placed.”
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