COCKE COUNTY, Tenn. — A Cocke County man is accused of throwing a dead dog and puppies stuffed inside of a trash bag into a river. He faces five counts of aggravated animal cruelty, according to a Cocke County Sheriff's Office report. Randall Crum was arrested on Friday.
"It's cruel. I wouldn't wish that on anything, especially animals. The amount of cruelty that it shows, it's uncalled for. There's no use in it," said Lisa Layman, the director of animal control in Newport.
On Tuesday, someone waved down a state trooper and told them there was a man throwing trash down an embankment. A trooper then found Crum and spoke with him, and he denied throwing any trash.
On Wednesday, the Tennessee Highway Patrol found a bag full of dogs and called the sheriff's office.
"It's getting to be more frequent, that we're seeing it. And it's not even just here in Cocke County, it's all over the area," said Layman.
She said animal shelters across East Tennessee are facing an overcrowding problem, causing issues when it comes to taking in animals who are victims of abuse and cruelty. She said the problem is also circular — a lack of space for animals means a lack of places people can bring animals if can't take care of them, possibly leading to neglect and abuse.
"Endangering an animal is never the answer. Call your local shelters and ask to be put on a waitlist if you can't take care of your pet. There is always an option," she said.