Pearl River, La – After the arrest of a woman who was found with 46 greyhounds living in her home in deplorable condition, the St. Tammany Parish Animal Shelter has announced that all the dogs have new homes.
Earlier this month, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested Leslie Ezkovich-Tierney on charges of animal cruelty. Ezkovich-Tierney operated “Grey Area Greyhound Adoption, Inc.” from her home on West Porter Road.
According to the Sheriff’s office, deputies found the dogs “covered in urine and feces, malnourished and dehydrated.” Also, several of the dogs had “sores caused by being kept in kennels” for more than 20 hours a day.
A greyhound owner, who adopted one of the greyhounds from Ezkovich-Tierney recently, said the dog smelled terrible and was emaciated. The owner, who does not want to be identified, told WGNO that Ezkovich-Tierney said the dog’s appearance was the result of abuse at a greyhound race track.
In a statement about the arrest, Sheriff Randy Smith called it “a very sad situation when defenseless animals are forced to live in undesirable conditions because of human negligence or neglect.”
Now, the parish shelter says that “eleven dogs were returned to their owners, and the remaining 35 were taken in by rescue groups.”
In a statement released Monday (Nov. 23), St. Parish President Mike Cooper said the shelter staff “quickly assessed all of the pups and placed them with their rightful owners, or with reputable rescue groups who so generously offered to help.”
Animal Services Director, Beth Brewster, said that finding the home filled with greyhounds was a case in which her staff “(stepped) in to lend a hand.”
“We want to encourage citizens to call us if they are in a situation that they find unmanageable,” said Brewster, “or if they see something they feel needs our attention. We are here to help.”