Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong said two individuals are in custody after a Blount County deputy discovered several dogs that were severely malnourished and without food and water in Friendsville Sunday.
James Albert Cardona, 43, and Rebecca Marie Bennett, 47, both of Misty Valley Road, Friendsville, were each charged with aggravated cruelty to animals (Class E felony) and eight counts of cruelty to animals (Class A misdemeanor). Cardona and Bennett are both being held on bonds totaling $100,000 each.
Sunday morning, a Blount County deputy was dispatched to the call of a suspicious male with a dog walking in the roadway in the area of Marble Hill and Dunlap Hollow roads. The man, who deputies identified as Cardona, told the deputy that he had been attacked by the dog who he had on the leash, however the deputy saw superficial, non-puncturing wounds that appeared older in nature, and the dog appeared non-aggressive. The deputy transported the man to his residence on Misty Valley Road, and it was then that he discovered multiple dogs with no immediate shelter, food, or water. The deputy also found a partially burned deceased dog in a burn barrel. As they continued their investigation, deputies located two puppies inside a wooden utility building with no air, food, or water visible and squalid conditions. While deputies were on the scene, Rebecca Bennett returned to the property. She told deputies she lived at the property, but she had not noticed the dogs were malnourished. Cardona and Bennett were arrested and transported to the Blount County Correctional Facility.
In total, deputies discovered eight malnourished dogs that are now in the care of the Blount County Animal Shelter. Cardona and Bennett relinquished custody of the dogs. The two are scheduled to appear in Blount County General Sessions Court at 9 a.m. November 9.
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