A Willford couple charged earlier this year with nearly 20 counts of animal cruelty, are now facing felony charges related to the case.
According to documents filed Dec. 21 at the Sharp County Courthouse, Tracy Allen Toller, 49 and Heidi Holland, 44 were initially booked into the Sharp County Detention Center Oct. 14 and charged with 19 counts each of cruelty to animals, a class A misdemeanor, however; an additional charge of aggravated cruelty to a dog, cat or horse, a class D felony has since been added.
The charges stem from a series of incidents discovered at home they were renting was found to have multiple deceased dogs and multiple malnourished dogs locked in the home or found in a pen outdoors.
The animals had been left for an extended period with no access to food or water.
According to documents filed in Sharp County District Court Sept. 27, authorities were notified on Aug. 22 after receiving a call from the homeowner’s girlfriend stating that she had received a call from a neighbor telling her there was a foul odor coming from the home.
Holland and Toller were renting the home in Williford with 19 dogs located at the residence, however; despite renting the home, the couple relocated just blocks away leaving the animals behind.
When speaking with the caller, Sharp County Deputy Marc Boyd was told there had not been contact with the renters in quite some time.
Boyd traveled to the residence at the request of the owner to perform a welfare check. She also told Boyd she had been told there were at least two deceased dogs still inside the home.
Neighbors spoke with HallmarkTimes and stated they could smell a foul odor coming from the residence and were also concerned. The property was not being maintained, but the animals were still being held there. Despite speaking with Toller, they had not seen an active effort to provide care for the animals or improve their situation.
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.
All animals still alive were transported to the rescue to receive treatment.
“The owners of the dogs only lived a couple blocks away at the time and knowingly allowed the abuse to happen,” the report said.
According to Third District Prosecuting Attorney Ryan Cooper, the parties responsible will be held accountable.
“We will prosecute this to the fullest extent of the law,” Cooper said.
Lauren is a an award-winning journalist who decided after 10 years of newspaper experience to venture out. Hallmark Times was born.
