A Mississippi man has been arrested after deputies found 10 animals dead and 20 animals malnourished at the man’s home last week, according to a Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office press release.
According to sheriff’s office, deputies were dispatched on Aug. 4 to a property on County Road 418 after a citizen reported possible animal cruelty.
According to the sheriff’s office, no one was home when deputies arrived on scene. A search warrant was issued.
Deputies reportedly found 20 dogs that appeared “very malnourished” and 10 additional dogs that were deceased and “still attached to their collars and chains.” The surviving dogs were rescued and taken to a local veterinarian office for evaluation and care, the sheriff’s office said.
On Aug. 7, authorities arrested 47-year-old Terry E. Pegues and charged him with 10 counts of animal cruelty. The Lafayette County Justice Court issued Pegues a $75,000 bond.
The Daily Mississippian reported that Pegues and his wife Charlotte Fant Pegues, who serves as vice chancellor of student affairs at the University of Mississippi, are listed on the deed of trust for a property on County Road 418.
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There have been no reports of an investigation into Fant Pegues, nor was she mentioned in the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office press release.
“University leaders are deeply disturbed and appalled by any instance of animal cruelty,” Director of News and Media Relations for the University of Mississippi Jacob Batte told The Daily Mississippian. “The university is not among the parties involved in the ongoing investigation by the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department, and the university is not aware of any charges against a university employee in relation to that investigation. Given the ongoing nature of the investigation, the university will make no further comment at this time.”
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