50 Dogs Rescued From Harrowing Conditions in Cramped Trailer, Man Charged With Animal Cruelty

A man was arrested by local authorities for animal hoarding and animal cruelty after 50 dogs were found inside his trailer in Silverhill, Alabama, on Monday, March 7. The arrest was made due to a call regarding the dire living conditions of multiple dogs in the trailer.

The incident is one of the many cases of animal hoarding and cruelty for animals across the United States. Over recent months, there have been multiple reports of abandoned animals, abused animals, and other related cases in different states across the US.

Silverhill Incident

On Monday, members of the Deputies and Animal Control Officers responded to a call indicating that there were several dogs inside a trailer at 19000 block of Meadow Dove Lane in Silverhill. The local authorities arrested a man who owns the trailer, as per NBC 15 News.

Authorities found the trailer consists of 50 dogs living inside the man's trailer. The local report showed the trailer contained a large number of garbage, feces, and urine. The dogs were then transported by the officials to the Hub City Humane Society animal shelter in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

The rescued dogs consist of 38 adult dogs and 12 puppies. There were no reported deaths and most of the dogs are in good health condition, as per NBC 15 News. However, the dogs were assessed and treated for potential illness or health hazards.

The arrested man is named Gilmer Edwards. The 51-year-old man was arrested along with another person living inside the trailer. Edwards was placed inside the Baldwin County Corrections Center for charges of cruelty to animals under a $9,000 bond.

Related Cases in the US

There were some recent related cases of animal hoarding and animal cruelty across the US. In California, over 80 animals consisting of cats and dogs were found inside the house of an elderly woman in Diamond Bar, as per Los Angeles Times.

Meanwhile, in Idaho, 50 cats were found inside a home in Idaho Falls in a related case of animal hoarding. Some of the cats require medical attention due to injuries, according to the East Idaho News. There were no immediate reports of charges on the cat owners.

Alabama Animal Protection Laws

Alabama currently has animal protection laws. However, Alabama is reportedly one of the states lagging behind state rankings in the US when it comes to clarity, effectiveness, and implementation against violators of these said laws.

According to the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) organization, Alabama currently has animal protection laws against animal cruelty. However, the ALDF reported that the state belongs to the bottom tier on its state rankings list when it comes to the overall quality of animal protection laws.

Across the US, the ALDF placed Alabama as no. 47 on its rankings, with Maine, Illinois, and Oregon leading under the top tier list. Meanwhile, Alabama is followed by Mississippi, Idaho, and New Mexico on the bottom tier list.