A Nashville-area rescue founder is behind bars after authorities say an out-of-state felony warrant tied her to an animal-cruelty case involving her brother-in-law in Georgia. Jennifer Lovette Caneup was booked in Nashville last Thursday, putting the future of the newly launched Cane-9 Rescue & Sanctuary under a harsh spotlight. She was being held on the warrant, with no additional publicly available charges listed against her at the time of the report.
According to WKRN News 2, Caneup was booked into the Davidson County Jail on July 30 and held without bond because of an active out-of-state warrant. The station reported that she faces extradition to Georgia, where the warrant originated.
Caneup founded Cane-9 Rescue & Sanctuary, which describes itself as a dog-focused rescue and sanctuary serving animals in need. The organization’s official website says it cares for dogs as well as horses, goats, chickens and ducks, while offering adoption, fostering and donation options.
Georgia Case Brings 18 Animal-Cruelty Counts
Joshua Caneup, Jennifer Caneup’s brother-in-law, was booked last Thursday on 18 counts of animal cruelty and charged with two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, according to Davidson County Sheriff’s Office information cited by WKRN. He was also arrested in Georgia in connection with the animal-abuse case, while Jennifer Caneup’s arrest stemmed from the active felony warrant.
The same report said the Tennessee Department of State told the station that Cane-9 had not yet been registered to accept donations as a charity in Tennessee. That registration question is separate from the animal-cruelty allegations, and the available report did not say it was part of the warrant against either family member.
Donation Registration Adds Another Layer
The Tennessee Secretary of State says charitable organizations can use the state’s online system to register and check their status before soliciting donations. Cane-9’s website continues to present the organization as a rescue seeking support for animal care, making the state’s registration finding a significant detail for donors and adopters weighing what comes next.
Extradition And Criminal Cases Remain Ahead
Caneup’s immediate legal issue is expected to be the extradition process, while Joshua Caneup’s animal-cruelty case will proceed in Georgia. Neither an arrest nor a criminal charge is a conviction, and the allegations will have to be tested in court as authorities determine what happens to the rescue and the animals connected to it.
