WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |Man accused of animal cruelty speaks out
Member Center:
Elgin John Melancon III
Source: Tangipahoa Parish Humane SocietyBy Keitha Nelson - bio | email
WALKER, LA (WAFB) - A man accused of animal cruelty says the dogs found on his property were not even his. He says they were strays that came to his home and he would feed them when he could.
Disturbing photos were taken of dogs found at the home of Elgin John Melancon III in Walker. They show animals so thin their ribs are visible. Livingston Parish sheriff's deputies described the conditions as horrible, but Melancon claims he was actually doing those dogs a favor.
"Those aren't my dogs," Melancon said. "The dogs in the yard are strays that people have dropped off. What are you supposed to do? A hungry dog comes to your house. You're feeding your dog. You going to run it off? I'm going to let it eat."
Melancon and his wife, Mimi, were each charged with nine counts of animal cruelty. Melancon said they're actually animal lovers themselves. Melancon said he tried to get someone to pick up the stray dogs, but because he lives in an unincorporated area and Livingston Parish does not officially have an animal control, no one came to get them.
He claimed he did the best he could with the strays, feeding them when possible. Randy Stegall with the Tangipahoa Parish Humane Society says according to state law, if you feed an animal and take it into your care, it becomes your responsibility. According to deputies, the dogs did not eat very often or very well.
Reports claim the little food available outside was covered with ants, roaches and mud. One pit bull found chained to Melancon's fence appeared malnourished. His sides were sunken in. Melancon said the pit was aggressive. It growled at his kids and neighbors and needed to be chained up.
Besides the animal cruelty charges, deputies said Melancon's wife was also given a summons for the piles of junk surrounding their home.
"I'm 100% willing to comply and clean this up," Melancon said. "I just don't have the means right now."
The fate of the rescued dogs has not yet been decided.
Melancon was accused of growing $60,000 worth of marijuana in his home back in August. When questioned about that case, he said he was unable to talk about it.
Related Stories
Copyright 2009 WAFB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Comments Terms of Use: We welcome your participation in our community. Please keep your comments civil and on point. Notify us of any inappropriate comments by clicking the “Mark as Offensive” link. You must be at least 13 years of age to post comments. By submitting a comment, you agree to these
Terms of Service
You must be logged in to leave a comment. Login or register See all comments |
