Tracy Toller and Heidi Holland of Williford, the couple charged with abandoning a multitude of dogs and one cat with no food or water in a locked home have entered into a plea agreement Aug. 1 before Judge Rob Ratton.
Initially both Toller and Holland were charged with 19 counts each of cruelty to animals and a felony charge of aggravated cruelty to animals was later added.
The charges stemmed from an incident in August of 2021 when Deputy Marc Boyd with the Sharp County Sheriff’s Department received a call from the property owner requesting a welfare check as they had not heard from the renters.
The caller said she requested the check as she had been told there were two dogs deceased still inside the home.
Neighbors of the home spoke with HallmarkTimesand stated they could smell a foul odor coming from the residence and were also concerned.
The individuals also stated Toller had commented on more than one occasion there was a deceased dog which needed to be buried. The man allegedly claimed one or two dogs had been shot following a break-in.
When Boyd arrived on scene, the property had not been maintained and after looking in a window, he spotted the bodies of two emaciated/bloated deceased dogs and could hear barking.
There was no evidence of an attempt at burglary as the home was secured and all entries locked.
Boyd then broke a small window to unlock the door at which time he was overcome by the smell of ammonia.
The temperature inside the residence was 100 degrees and no windows were open and no alternative form of exit such as a dog door was available.
Upon entering the residence, Boyd discovered multiple bodies of dogs as well as some emaciated dogs who had survived by eating the corpses of the deceased dogs.
Boyd then came to a room in the home, which was padlocked, however; he could hear a cat meowing.
He then kicked the door in to allow the cat to be free.
It was apparent the dogs throughout the house had died in intervals.
There were three small dogs emaciated, malnourished and dehydrated still alive in the home.
An additional seven dogs were discovered in the back yard alive but deprived of food or water.
Both Toller and Holland pled guilty to one count aggravated cruelty to animals, a class D felony and 18 counts of misdemeanor cruelty to animals.
In October of 2021, Toller and Holland turned themselves in to authorities and had remained in the Sharp County Detention Center for 290 days, which was credited to them during sentencing.
Toller and Holland were sentenced to time served, 48 month’s probation and to pay court fees and fines.
Lauren is a an award-winning journalist who decided after 10 years of newspaper experience to venture out. Hallmark Times was born.
