Woman arrested for animal cruelty
11:12 PM, Aug. 1, 2011

'A Bay Springs woman has been arrested on 11 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty following a July 10 incident at Southern Pines Animal Shelter.

Patsy Payton, 52, was arrested Monday by Hattiesburg Police and charged with tying 11 shepherd-mix puppies to the fence surrounding the shelter late one night.

A Hattiesburg police press release said investigations following up on tips from Metro Crime Stoppers led to Payton's arrest. A concerned citizen donated an additional $1,000 to Crime Stoppers on top of what the organization already offered to be given as a reward to the anonymous tipster who helped police make an arrest in this case.

Shelter employee Elizabeth Swann said one of the puppies hanged itself during the night, and the other 10 had to be euthanized because of the injuries sustained from being tied to the fence.

"We showed up for work at 7:30 in the morning," Swann said in an earlier interview. "They had been tied with plastic twine - each and every one of them had it tied around their neck tight to the fence."

Shelter manager Lara Hudson said she had to euthanize the remaining 10 puppies the next day in an interview following the incident.

"(They) had their collars embedded so far into their necks that they weren't savable," she said.

Hudson said the woman who tied the puppies to the fence was caught on videotape.

Misdemeanor animal cruelty carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

A new state law passed in the 2011 legislative session changes the rules on how animal cruelty cases are prosecuted as they relate to domesticated cats and dogs.

The new law states anyone who intentionally tortures, burns, starves or disfigures a dog or cat can be charged with aggravated cruelty, which would remain a misdemeanor on a first offense. Another offense within five years would be a felony.

"I wish there were stronger laws in the state of Mississippi to protect from this," Hudson said. "This was a hideous, horrible crime."'
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20110802/NEWS01/108020312/Woman-arrested-animal-cruelty