A Leitchfield man arrested on October 23 of last year on animal cruelty charges has agreed to a plea deal in a Grayson County courtroom.
On Monday, 56-year-old Greg Rigdon, moments before jury selection was to begin in his trial, pled guilty to animal cruelty and agreed to serve a one-year jail sentence, with all except 30 days suspended. He will also serve two-years probation, agreed to pay $570 in restitution to compensate the Leitchfield Animal Shelter for veterinarian bills, surrendered his rights to animals seized at his home in October, and is precluded from owning or living in a home with animals for two years.
Leitchfield Animal Shelter Director Jessica Fulkerson said Grayson County Animal Control Officer Todd Saltsman and then Grayson County Chief Deputy Corey Knochel “found six beagle hounds in two kennels off the ground. Their automatic feeders were completely empty. Five of the dogs were underweight and one of them was severely emaciated.”
Fulkerson said further inspection of the property revealed “the skeletal remains of what appeared to be two dogs” located in a kennel about 50 yards from where the six other dogs were located.
Veterinarians at the Leitchfield Veterinary Clinic told Fulkerson the grossly emaciated female beagle, named Lilac by animal shelter staff, had a body score of one (out of five), with the other five beagles’ having a body score of two, representing near death scenarios for all six animals.
“It’s time people start paying for their actions when it comes to the abuse and neglect of innocent animals,” Fulkerson said. “I’m proud of Grayson County law enforcement, Grayson County Animal Control, County Attorney Clay Ratley, and the concerned citizens who brought the issue to our attention.”
Fulkerson said all six of the beagles survived the ordeal and have been, or are scheduled for adoption.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
