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Lee County deputies find hundreds of dogs living in poor conditions

LEE COUNTY, Ala. — Lee County Animal Control officials removed dozens of dogs from a property in Plantersville after neighbors reported a dog attack, authorities said.

On Jan. 5, a resident contacted the Lee County Sheriff’s Department about a group of dogs that entered her property and attacked another dog, Sheriff Jim H. Johnson said in a Facebook post.

Animal Control officers responded and issued an animal pickup order for a residence near the complainant. When officers arrived, they found about 40 to 50 dogs living in unsanitary conditions. An investigation revealed approximately 200 dogs and one horse on the property.

While some animals appeared to be in fair health, the overall environment was deemed unsuitable for proper animal welfare, Johnson said. Several dogs have been taken into custody, and officials are working to relocate the remaining animals to appropriate facilities.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division is investigating the case. Criminal charges may be filed pending the outcome of the investigation, authorities said. More details will be released as they become available.

Jon Myers

Jon Ross Myers founded Mississippi News Group in 2013. Before founding the organization, he worked at The Daily Mississippian, The Marion Salute and The Southern Sentinel. A Mississippi journalist and writer based in Ripley, he received second place in poetry in the 2025 William Faulkner Literary Competition for "The Garden."

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