On January 20th, acting on a tip, Officers with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Unit and Patrol Division executed a search warrant at 2809 Silver Creek Road in East Knox County.

Inside the garage, Officers discovered more than 20 dogs and cats being held in deplorable conditions. Rugs had been stuffed at the bottoms of the doors leading to the garage, preventing any fresh air from entering the garage. The stench of ammonia caused by large amounts of urine could be smelled from the driveway.

Conditions were so bad that a total of 23 animals, including 18 Chihuahuas, four Shih Tzus and one cat, were removed from the residence and taken to Young-Williams Animal Center.

Several dogs, cats, and puppies inside the home were being maintained in acceptable conditions and were allowed to remain with the owner.

The owner, 57-year-old Jimmy Wayne Hopper, was charged with and pled guilty to Cruelty to Animals. Per his plea agreement of 11 months and 29 days, Hopper surrendered all 23 animals and agreed to pay $2,000 in restitution to Young-Williams Animal Center. He is not allowed to breed any animals or bring any new animals onto his property during this time.

He had to provide a list of animals currently residing in the home and must maintain proper veterinarian records on them. He is subject to random checks by the Animal Control Unit.

Two Knox County people have been charged with animal cruelty regarding a llama that was being kept on their property.  Pearl Scates of 9905 Coward Mill Road was cited with animal cruelty for not providing any medical care for the llama.  Her son, Gerald Scates was issued two citations—one for animal cruelty and one for manner of keeping.

According to the report, on Sunday, August 21 at 11:30 a.m. Animal Control Officers were dispatched to the Coward Mill Road property due to an unknown caller making a complaint that a llama was not being taken care of properly.  The officers found the llama with a large cut on his upper and lower lips to the point that the lips were just hanging by a small piece of flesh.  They also saw barb wire fence wrapped around the animal.   A feed bowl had what looked to be rain water with bugs in it.  The llama was unable to stand up and Pearl Scates told officers the animal had been lying down for the past two days.  She said her son owned the llama and was out of town and there was no way to reach him.  The officer asked if she had contacted a veterinarian to treat the mouth injury and she said no, but she would call one to come shoot the animal.

At that point, the officer asked if she would sign ownership of the animal over to the Sheriff’s Office and she did.  With the help of Horse Haven personnel and KCSO Animal Control Officers, the llama was loaded into a horse trailer and transported to the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center.  Vets treated the animal and had to shave him because his fur was so matted.  Within a week he was standing again, his mouth healing after being stitched, he had a name, and a new owner.  His name is now “Stamos” for the actor John Stamos.  Seems the students at the Vet School thought he resembled the handsome entertainer.  As for the new owner, she is veterinarian Trish Harrop.  She hopes to take Stamos home sometime this week.

Dr. Harrop and Animal Control Officers were so touched by the plight of Stamos that they have donated their own money to the U.T. Vet School to go for his care.

Captain Bobby Hubbs who heads up the Animal Control Unit wants to stress that exotic animals such as llamas are not like normal livestock.  Llamas especially need their fur trimmed in the summer.  “People failing to provide water, food, and or medical care to animals can be prosecuted,” says Captain Hubbs. “In law enforcement we enter service to help those too weak to defend and protect themselves and we extend this philosophy to animal investigations, too.”

Llama Found Here	Injured Lips	Matted Fur with Wire

Treatment at Vet School	Students with Stamos	Hydrotherapy