top of page

ALL POSTS

- Alabama, USA -


~ Update: September 27, 2024

 

On September 24, 2024, 64-years-old DEBRA JANE CATLEDGE (pictured) was sentenced after in August 2024, she was found guilty of thirty-seven (37) counts of animal cruelty.

 

Colbert County Circuit Judge Mitchell D. Hays handed down a thirty (30) year-split-sentence. CATLEDGE will only serve nine (9) years in prison and after her release, she will be on probation for the remaining twenty-one (21) years during which time she cannot have animals. If she violates her probation she will be sent back to prison for the remainder of her sentence.

 

WHNT reports that according to court documents, CATLEDGE entered a guilty plea for seventeen (17) counts of second-degree dog/cat cruelty, twelve (12) counts of cruelty to animals, three (3) counts of first-degree dog/cat cruelty, three (3) counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, and two (2) counts of failure to bury livestock. Four counts were abandoned by the court to be considered in the sentencing.

 

As reported by WAFF, CATLEDGE  is planning on appealing her conviction. Judge Hays set a $150,000 appeal bond at the end of the sentencing. CATLEDGE is booked in the Colbert County Jail on that bond.

 


~ Original story:


On Friday, September 29, 2023, Colbert County authorities executed a search warrant on a property in Cherokee.


Corey Speegle, the director of animal services at the Colbert County Animal Shelter, told Fox News Digital that back in June he received reports of dead horses on the property which prompted an investigation. On September 25, 2023, Speegle received another report, and after presenting it to both the sheriff’s office and district attorney’s office, a search warrant was executed.


County Animal Services and State Bureau of Investigation found at least twenty-nine (29) dead horses as well as ten (10) live horses who were suffering from starvation, and nearly fifty (50) dogs who were living in horrible conditions. Additionally, officials discovered skeletal remains of two dogs. One of the deceased horses was found in a pond.


Speegle told Fox News Digital the conditions “were bad as the hair on the majority of the dogs was matted, and they were living in urine and feces. Some of the dogs were so matted that it was difficult to find the eyes. The dogs were also covered in bugs and cockroaches.”

This was a puppy mill,” added Speegle.


All the surviving animals, including horses, dogs, donkeys, and mules, were removed from the property, and taken to the Colbert County Animal Shelter.


On Saturday, September 30, 2023, deputies with the Colbert County Sheriff’s Office arrested 63-years-old DEBRA JANE CATLEDGE (pictured) on fifteen (15) counts of animal cruelty. CATLEDGE was booked into the Colbert County Jail and released the following day after posting $12,250 bond.


WAFF reports that CATLEDGE was then arrested again on the evening of Tuesday, October 3, 2023, on state charges of twenty-eight (28) counts of failing to bury or burn dead animals.


Through Facebook posts, the Colbert County Animal Shelter thanked the volunteers who came out and helped and everyone who stepped up to assist the shelter with monetary donations and food.


On a separate note, News 19 reports that CATLEDGE “is not a stranger to animal-related cases with law enforcement. She was convicted in 2013 after authorities rescued more than 120 small dogs that were found in cages outside her home.”

After pleading guilty to the animal cruelty charges, CATLEDGE spent some time in jail and according to a plea agreement, she was no longer allowed to breed animals.

Colbert County Sheriff Eric Balentine told News 19: “After she did her 14 days, she wasout of sight, out of mindand I’m not pointing fingers because I don’t know whose at fault for that… I’m just saying after this, as long as I’m in office, somebody is going to keep an eye on what’s going on.”


As I always say, animal abusers are toxic. Toxic people do not change, they only change their victims!


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.



CATLEDGE’s mugshot shared from the Colbert County Jail.





- Alabama, USA -


~ Update: September 29, 2022

A Colbert County Grand Jury has indicted JASON DANIEL FOSTER (pictured), on animal cruelty charges.


WHNT reports that according to the indictment, FOSTER is accused of intentionally torturing dogs by inflicting inhumane treatment of “gross physical abuse” intended to cause the animals “intensive or prolonged pain,” serious injury or death “due to said act.”


FOSTER is free on a $1,750 cash bond and his arrangement has been scheduled to take place on October 13, 2022.




~ Original story:

Deputies with the Colbert County Sheriff’s Office were investigating a shooting on Underwood Mountain Road in Tuscumbia, when they noticed dogs in poor health at a home in the neighborhood.


On Monday, June 13, deputies removed from a property on 1760 Underwood Mountain Road, 15 dogs who were malnourished and in need of medical attention.

The same week, on Friday, June 17, deputies returned to the home and with the assistance of Colbert County Animal Control, they served a search warrant and removed 18 more dogs and 2 cats.


Colbert County Sheriff Frank Williamson said this property is not related to the shooting incident.


Deputies arrested a male who gave a false name at first and identified himself as Jonathan Foster. Deputies later learned that the arrestee had given his brother’s name instead of his which is JASON DANIEL FOSTER (pictured).


FOSTER is facing a first-degree animal cruelty charge but Sheriff Williamson said more charges are expected to be filed against FOSTER.

He was taken to the Colbert County Jail on a $15,000 bond.


Sheriff Williamson thanked Corey Speegle and the Colbert County Animal Shelter for their help with this case.


Some of the animals have been taken to the Colbert County Animal Shelter, some are in the care of Friends of Florence Lauderdale Animal Shelter, while others are in foster homes and veterinarian’s offices.

The nonprofit Friends of Florence Lauderdale Animal Services posted a few pictures of the dogs removed from FOSTER’s home and in a Facebook post said: “We want to help our friends at Colbert County animal shelter raise $3000. These dogs are in need of a lot of care. Colbert animal shelter has had to take in many dogs this week who need help. Let’s help our neighbors out. Thank you.”


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.




Sources:





Subscribe Form

© 2025 Voice For Us
bottom of page