57-year-old David Hendrix of Hendersonville, Tennessee is being charged with nine counts of aggravated animal cruelty after nine dogs were discovered in “deplorable conditions” inside of his pitch-black home.
According to the Hendersonville Police Department, those conditions included the corpses of other dogs, floors caked with inches of feces, bones of other dead dogs and trash.
An affidavit revealed that a neighbor complained about a home infested with large rats, overgrown shrubbery and a foul odor coming from the home.
When the city arrived at the home, Hendrix said there were 10 dogs inside, and that some of them might be dead.
Hendrix also said that no one has lived in the home for about five years and during that time the dogs had not been outside. The affidavit says Hendrix was feeding the dogs through a crack in the door and told the officer,
“I’m sorry for what you’re going to see.”
Lt. Jimmy Garrett, Hendersonville Police Department said,
“I’ve been in this job 18 years, and this is probably one of the worst conditions I’ve ever seen.”
Detectives then asked Hendrix why he didn’t help or take care of the dogs he thought may be dead, Hendrix said he couldn’t get to them because of the other dogs in the home. He also said he and his wife “take the best care of [the dogs] that they can,” and mentioned he would be going to jail over the situation.
The rescued dogs were taken in by Animal Rescue Corps who said the animals have numerous health conditions including pressure wounds, eye and ear infections, and ammonia exposure which most likely caused one of the dogs to go completely blind.
Rescuers also said it looked like some of the dogs just gave birth, however they couldn’t find any puppies on the property,
Hendrix was taken to the Sumner County jail and has since bonded out, according to officials.
