Over 100 Animals Including Horses And Exotic Birds Rescued From Hoarding Situation In Tennessee, Woman Charged

Over 100 animals were rescued from a hoarding situation in Lincoln County, Tennessee, on Thursday (April 30).

As part of an animal hoarding investigation, deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and the Humane Society responded to a home on McCaylee Lane in Frankewing and found more than 100 animals, including dogs, donkeys, horses, sheep, exotic birds and turtles on the property. Officials said that some of the animals were found dead. Local reports stated that the despite the property spanning more than 70 acres, the animals were confirmed to small areas.

Laura Lifer, who was hoarding animals and running a puppy mill, was taken into custody and charged with 18 counts of animal cruelty. This is not the first time the woman is charged with crimes involving animal cruelty. In 2009, she was convicted on two counts of animal cruelty and was ordered to not own more than one cat and one dog. She was also prohibited from owning large animals.

Speaking about the hoarding incident, Lincoln County Sheriff Murray Blackwelder said that this was the worst case of animal hoarding that he had ever witnessed.

Since the county has not animal control, Tennessee state veterinarian and local humane societies including the Nashville Humane Society, Giles County Animal Shelter and Horse Plus Humane Society will be helping in looking after the animals and finding them homes. Nashville Humane Association will be taking in 26 dogs.

“Several of them have conditions, anywhere from skin conditions to heart failure. I’m not saying any of that in particular was on her, the owner, but they need to be addressed,” Giles County Animal Shelter Director Morgan Sutton said.

Cindy Kite, the president of the Humane Society of Lincoln County, has asked anyone who wished to help the animals to contact them. The society accepts donations as well.

“PO BOX 37, Fayetteville Tennessee. We live off donations. Only about a third of our funding comes from the city and county,” Kite said.