A Jones County animal rights group had mostly mixed reactions Thursday after a county man was found guilty of neglecting and abusing nine pit bulls and a chihuahua.
Zavier Arrington, 28, 2189 Highway 11 North just north of the Sandersville city limits, was
sentenced to 30 days in jail, which was suspended, following a nearly two-hour bench trial at Jones County Justice Court. Judge David Lyons suspended the sentence in favor of community service for Arrington, who also was fined $1,250 and ordered to seek a psychological evaluation at his own expense. If Arrington completes community service, he will be allowed to have dogs again, the judge ruled.
It is unlikely any of the dogs seized on Dec. 18 will be returned to Arrington.
Lyons first ruled that Arrington would have to do his community service with SCAR, but organization President Heather Williams asked if he could do his service at another facility.
“The other thing that was causing a hush was him possibly doing animal training and care at our facility, which is still housing those dogs that we were in court for. That was uncomfortable,” Williams said. “If those dogs were already adopted out, or not in our facility, that would be a different story.
“I think the idea of animal education is good, especially if he thinks the care he was giving to those dogs was proper. If he legitimately thought that was proper care, he really does need education, just not at SCAR.”
Other members echoed Williams.
“We don’t want him volunteering at SCAR,” said member Savannah Pipkins. “I was a little shocked that the judge thought about giving the dogs back, too. We’ll never put dogs back in that environment.”
On Dec. 18, SCAR members went to Arrington’s trailer to offer a dog house and hay for a dog that could be seen from the highway chained to a felled tree. When they arrived, there was no one home but SCAR said they could see several other pit bulls chained to trees. Two deputies went to the home with a seizure order from Lyons when Arrington first arrived. He signed a surrender order giving the animals to SCAR.
All of them needed medical attention, Williams said, some in worse shape than others. Arrington’s attorney, John Satcher of Jackson, argued that since there were no photos of the dogs taken before the Dec. 18 seizure, it was unclear whether the dogs were getting healthier or in decline.
Williams had photos of the dogs taken that night and again in the past few days. One of the 10, which SCAR named Lena, died. The other nine are in foster care, Williams said.
Arrington argued that he was a dog-lover who took in sickly animals from relatives, friends and dogs he had found on the side of the road. He said all of the dogs had adequate food and water near they were chained.
He said he fed them all twice a day, gave medicine, veterinary care and even said he gave one dog a penicillin shot.
“I have never mistreated dogs,” Arrington said in court testimony. “I love dogs and I want them back.”
Arrington said he often played with the dogs and gave them treats, but all of his contentions were in direct contrast to what SCAR said they saw in December.
Deputy Adam Welch testified that the only food he saw was a bag inside the home that he estimated would not be enough to feed all the dogs. Arrington said he had fed the dogs that morning and was going to make a food run the next day. Arrington also said that there were two bowls for each dog — one for food and one for water.
“The only access to water they had was the muddy puddles around them,” Williams said.
In addition, the only shelter available for the dogs was a dilapidated small house riddled with holes.
Lawyers also argued over the condition of the dogs, including photos that showed many with ribs and spine protruding, many that had lost hair because of mange and dogs that had been standing in mud for so long their toes were curled under each other.
Williams had veterinarian files on all of the dogs seized, one of which included a dog’s tooth that was removed from the neck of one of the seized dogs. SCAR also argued that many of the dogs had their canine teeth shaved down, a common practice for dogs training to fight. There was no direct testimony that the dogs had been used in fighting and Arrington said the grinded-down teeth were because the dogs, “chewed on logs and vines.”
Satcher, during cross examination of Williams, blamed the rescue organization for one of its dogs biting Arrington’s dog and that it was a SCAR dog’s tooth embedded in the neck. That drew a gasp from about 50 SCAR supporters who crammed into the Justice Court.
About 100 animal rights activists from as far away as Bay Springs and Hattiesburg stood outside Justice Court for about an hour leading up to the trial. Many held signs seeking the maximum penalty for Arrington and proclaiming themselves to be a voice for the voiceless.
“It was important for us to be there because we wanted to be their voice,” said Jessica Long, who was protesting alongside her daughter Jayden. “Animals love unconditionally and can’t speak for themselves. They deserved better treatment than they were getting.”
Arrington and about five family members quickly left the courthouse. One man got into a fracas with a reporter, at times bumping him and saying no one was allowed to take photos of his vehicle.
Williams hopes the outcome and the support showed by activists will spur legislation to strengthen animal abuse. A second conviction of animal abuse is a felony and is punishable by up to six months in jail and a $2,500 fine.
“Animals matter to people and the care of animals matters,” Williams said. “It shows that we are doing the right thing and doing what the community wants.”