ALTUS, Ark. — 5NEWS received several messages from viewers about alleged animal abuse in Altus. An animal rights advocacy group posted on Facebook calling attention to a situation they said involved a man demolishing a building on his property while knowing that a mother dog and her puppies were underneath.
The Artemis Project organized protests at the property and volunteers were arrested by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office for criminal trespassing. The Artemis Project claimed that the mother dog was injured after part of the building fell on her during the demolition.
However, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office (FCSO) said in a statement that not only is the property owner taking good care of the puppies, but that their mother was actually hit by a car and not injured from the building being demolished on top of her, as the Artemis Project claims.
A post by the Artemis Project brought attention to one of their volunteers being arrested for trespassing while they said she was rescuing the animals.
"The person tearing down a shed knew momma and babies had been living under there. Instead of accepting assistance for these innocent souls, he decided to press charges and continue the animal neglect in our region," the post reads, including a video of the arrest.
The FSCO said in a statement released on their Facebook page on Feb. 7 that the woman was arrested after there was evidence she had been on the private property "clearly marked with 'no trespassing' signs."
"After further investigation, it was found that the persons who had been charged with trespassing, and others who were loitering in the area, were entering the property in an attempt to retrieve puppies from under an abandoned house. Several stories came out about abuse to animals, but the facts of the case were quickly uncovered," FSCO said.
FCSO said they first learned of the situation on Feb. 5, when Veronica Post, the mayor of Altus, called the city's police department referencing the mother dog on the property being injured.
The Altus Police Department (APD) alerted the property owner of the dog's injuries, and deputies said the owner arrived at his property to find the dog missing, and "several unknown people on the porch of the dilapidated and unsafe house."
The puppies' mother was taken by a man who allegedly trespassed onto the property, FSCO said.
At some point, the property owner dismantled the front porch of the abandoned building "to deter the continuous trespassing and possible injury to future trespassers."
FSCO said the man who allegedly took the mother dog trespassed again and took two of the puppies.
While local animal advocates sent several messages to 5NEWS stating the property owner had plans to demolish the building without care for the dogs' wellbeing, deputies said that actually, the owner of the property continued to feed the puppies and attempted to catch them so that he could give them away to a safe home.
In the Franklin County Sheriff's Office retelling of events, deputies say the property owner had been caring for the puppies for several days.
On Feb. 6, deputies were requested by APD to return to the property because someone was reportedly threatening the owner with a gun.
FCSO said when deputies arrived, the person with the gun had left, but 20 people were standing across the street, reportedly harassing the property owner by "yelling profanities and threats."
Ultimately, the deputies said during their investigation, no animals were abused or endangered by "anyone involved."
At the time of FCSO's statement, they said "All of the puppies have been retrieved from under the house by the property owner, and are currently being checked by a veterinarian. The puppies appear to be very healthy and well-fed. All of the puppies have been adopted," FCSO said.
During the protest, another woman was arrested by deputies for criminal trespassing. They have both since been released.
The Artemis Project posted the update, asking supporters to donate or purchase a shirt with the two women's mugshots and the phrase "Rescue the Rescuers" on them.
Comments circulating under the sheriff's office post include asking for proof that the puppies are OK and questioning whether a car actually hit the mother dog.
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