3 Unknown Males

Left a shot cow (still alive) in the landfill

Augusta, GA

May 20, 2005

A Grovetown woman witnessed 3 men dump an injured cow at the Augusta-Richmond County Solid Waste Facility, knowing the animal was still alive.

County Officials say the incident does not qualify as animal cruelty.

The men drove to the landfill in a white Dodge Ram truck.  A cow was in the bed for the truck.  The men stated they shot the cow in the head before loading it on the truck.  The cow was obviously alive, its stomach rising and falling as it breathed.

The men then fixed a chain around the cow’s neck and attached it to a landfill bulldozer.  The bulldozer driver then yanked the cow off the truck and began pulling it toward the landfill.  He men drove off.  The witness told the bulldozer driver that the cow was still alive and asked him to put the cow out of its misery.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office was notified, but the responding deputy said no crime had been committed.

Augusta Animal Services Director Randy Teasley agreed with the deputy.  The men did not violate the county’s animal cruelty ordinance because they tried to euthanize the cow in an acceptable manner and did no intentionally try to cause the animal pain.  “They used really bad judgment – they should have made sure the cow was dead” “That’s what they’re guilty of”

The county’s animal control ordinance provides an exemption to the killing of animals raised for the purpose of providing good.

Mark Johnson, The director of the Augusta-Richmond County Solid Waste Facility said the county’s police is to take animals after they are deceased.  An injured animal should not have been disposed of, he said.

Dolores Robinson, a member of the Augusta Humane Society, said he case did involve animal cruelty.  “It’s not only inhumane, it’s cruel”,” she said.

Reference:

Augusta Chronicle