Torture, animal cruelty charges filed against southern Kentucky couple after dogs found

A Garrard County couple face animal torture and cruelty charges after officers found a dead dog tied to a tree and other emaciated dogs and at their house, police said.

On Oct. 22, Garrard County Animal Control and the Garrard County Police Department responded to a home on Dora Drive, where they found two severely starved dogs and one dog that had died while tied up outside, according to the police department.

A dog described as a pit bull mix was “severely emaciated with ribs showing,” the police department said. There was also an Australian Shepard Great Pyrenees mix chained to the front porch, according to police.

Police determined the dogs belonged to Johnny and Maria Denny, who were arrested Nov. 5 and charged with dog torture and with animal cruelty, according to court records.

The dogs were taken to the Garrard County Animal Shelter, the police department said. Both are gaining weight and improving rapidly, according to police.

“After we obtain convictions in this case, we will be looking for someone to adopt these beautiful dogs,” police said in a release.

Although some police departments have made use of available animal-abuse charges, Kentucky has been ranked the worst in the nation for 11 consecutive years for its for inadequate animal protection laws, according to the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

This story was originally published November 13, 2018 at 10:51 AM.