Local Animal Shelter Shut Down, Director Faces Animal Cruelty Charges

6/3/2016

Edmonson Voice Staff Report
Law enforcement officials were called out to the Edmonson County Animal Shelter in Bee Spring this evening when an Owensboro woman found a dead dog in a pen outside as she came to pick up a few animals. The woman reported that the shelter was locked and no one was on site while outside animals were without food, shelter, and water.

The sheriff's office responded to the scene but turned the case over to Kentucky State Police due to the shelter being a county office, which created a conflict of interest. The shelter is owned by Greg and Kim Carroll of Bee Spring.

Officials said once inside, they found three dead cats and reported several animals were without food and water and were covered in their own feces. 47 dogs and 17 cats were said to be found in extremely poor living conditions and several of the animals appeared to be malnourished.

Witnesses said the owners told officials that several of the animals were unhealthy when they were brought to the shelter and that the poor living conditions of the animals had escalated just today.

Shelter Director Kim Carroll, 50, was charged with Cruelty to Animals, 2nd degree, a Class A misdemeanor. Her husband Greg, was not charged.

The shelter serves not only Edmonson, but also Grayson, Hart, and Metcalfe Counties and receives a total of approximately $136,000 in funding from the counties combined.

KSP said that the shelter has been shut down indefinitely and that all animals will be relocated to Barren and Warren County shelters as soon as possible.

The investigation is ongoing.

If found guilty, Carroll faces up to 12 months in jail and a $500 fine.

19 Comments

Melinda Ritter

6/4/2016 02:10:17 am

I have heard so much for the past few years on the Shelter, I am so pleased that there was,finally, enough evidence to put an end to the animal cruelty!

Sherry Boehm

6/4/2016 05:35:15 am

The animals coming in in poor health is no excuse. If they can't handle the problems or animals, then it would be time to find some new owners. Let's not feed and water them (the owners) to see how they feel to die a slow death. I think we NEED,better animal protection rights in KY. this is heartbreaking.

Sandy Rigdon

6/4/2016 06:17:36 am

I'm physically ill. So glad something is finally done to help these animals!

Kitty Houchin

6/4/2016 07:46:11 am

Thankfully someone finally listened. RIP to all the others that have died unnecessarily over the years. Hope she can't "double talk" her way out of this one. Thanks to all involved in stopping the horrors.

Ladonna Houchin

6/4/2016 08:10:05 am

This sickens me to the core!! I have heard about the conditions of this shelter for several years. I'm elated that the owners can no longer profit from the abuse of helpless animals and hope they have to pay back the money that they have embezzled from the good people of these countries that they were pretending to be servicing. VERY DISAPPOINTED!!!

Amy Vincent

6/4/2016 08:16:02 am

Thank goodness someone finally listen!!!!

Tammy Alexander

6/4/2016 08:31:28 am

I can't stand the thought of all the animals that we don't know about. No telling how many have been left to die or fend for themselves, looking for food and water, it sickens me that this had been brought to the attention of authorities and nothing was done. I just hope something does get done this time, there is absolutely NO excuse of any kind to justify any of this.... This job requires someone who is in it for the animals only and not the money !!!

Patty Basham

6/4/2016 04:24:43 pm

This a shame and disgrace to the owners! Shame on you!

Robert Johnson

6/4/2016 11:16:18 am

I am so pleased to hear that this placed may finally be shut down. We adopted a pet from them a few years ago with hesitation after seeing the conditions of the facility. We rescued a puppy (which cost approximately $50.00 at the time), whom we named "Molly" and loved her very much until she died 2 weeks after we got her. The article in the Daily News last year was spot-on with everything we experienced. I wished our county's leadership would have taken action into the situation last year, instead of pushing it under the table and getting defensive about something bad that was happening in our county. It may have saved a few more lives of our four-legged friends.

Todd Duke

6/4/2016 11:28:26 am

Thank God these animals are finally safe now no living creature deserves to be mistreated or abused I also agree with the comment made earlier let's not feed or water the people that were running the shelter and see how they like it

Richard Weller

6/4/2016 11:38:19 am

Looking at the daily responsibility of a shelter this organization has failed on many levels. Cats need food, water and litter boxes scooped twice a day (did this happen)? Dogs need food and water twice a day plus being walked twice a day (did this happen)? Reading this story the only thing that the owners wanted is the $136,000 and nothing else. You can only hope that there are requirements to own and operate a shelter along with semi annual inspections by a state inspector in Kentucky.

Dawn Matthews

6/4/2016 03:13:05 pm

So thankful all animals have been relocated to places that will take care of them. The persons responsible should have to repay all monies or forward to the shelters now taking care of the animals and serve one month in jail for each animal that was in their care. I truly believe we are here to take care of those with a voice.

Theresa Carroll link

6/4/2016 03:59:57 pm

I was so sorry to hear of all of this cruelty to animals. It is so sad. Our pets are like our children. This just breaks my heart..😢

Sharon A Sanders

6/4/2016 08:46:40 pm

Thank God.......

Teresa Williams

6/4/2016 09:24:01 pm

good job edmonson voice for being the first ones to report this story

sandy martin

6/4/2016 09:47:31 pm

shame on Kim Carroll for not taking care of these babies....they thought they was safe from harm...if she is guilty of this i hope she gets the max...im not the judge nor jury but no baby deserves to be mistreated by anyone....

Kevin Edwards

6/5/2016 06:50:50 am

I think it's stupid our tax money goes for things like this. We don't need an animal shelter here. Best thing for some old stray cat? A bullet. Lots cheaper than cat food and it won't have problems for sitting in its own turds locked up somewhere in a cage.

Timmy Davis

6/5/2016 06:55:22 am

Yes sir Kevin Edwards. I also want to know where all these animal lovers were when all this stuff was going on. All these people say they were there over and over and saw all this bad stuf going on yet they didnt do nothing to help or volunteer they just griped and complained on facebook. Everybodys an activist till it comes time for you to act then all you do just cuss people out on the internet.

Susan Donoghue

6/5/2016 12:33:39 pm

Just about a year ago I spent two disgusting days at the shelter, shocked at the conditions of facility and the poor defenseless animals. First thing I saw was a dead dog in a cage. All others in cages were sitting and laying in their own feces because the cages were too small. Urine ran from kennel to kennel cross contaminating. There was a litter of puppies in an outdoor run covered with feces, urine and vomit. One of the puppies was so sick and emaciated it couldn't hold its head up. I wrote a letter with my findings and concerns to our Judge Executive and included a lot of things that needed to be changed. But, I received a deaf ear. Would love to hear his response now.

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.

Local Animal Shelter Shut Down, Director Faces Animal Cruelty Charges

Leave a Reply.