Eight dogs — four of them puppies — were pulled from a home on Cox Street in Belton after deputies found the animals dehydrated, flea-infested and, in at least one case, severely malnourished. The owner, 49-year-old James Louie Conard, was arrested Thursday on eight counts of ill treatment of animals and released on bond.
According to WYFF, the Anderson County Sheriff's Office Animal Control Unit had been investigating allegations of ill treatment of animals at the property this month. Deputies said they observed that multiple dogs appeared ill-treated, lacking proper water and veterinary care, and obtained a search warrant before removing all eight animals from the home.
Deputies described the dogs as visibly underweight and malnourished. An initial medical assessment found fleas, internal parasites, dehydration and overgrown toenails among the documented conditions; at least one of the eight was labeled severely malnourished and underweight, per the same account. The group included four puppies, and all eight were transported to Anderson County PAWs, where they will undergo medical and temperament evaluations before becoming available for adoption or transfer to a rescue organization.
Notice to Comply Went Unheeded
Investigators say this wasn't the first time Conard had been confronted about conditions at the property. The sheriff's office had issued him a notice to comply, requiring him to fix animal-care issues and obtain proper veterinary treatment for the dogs, the station's report notes. Conard failed to meet those standards, according to the same account, which led to the search warrant and the eventual seizure.
Conard has since signed over custody of all eight dogs to Anderson County PAWs, according to the sheriff's office. He was booked on the eight counts tied to each animal and was released on bond, per the report.
Part of a Recurring Problem in Anderson County
Large-scale dog seizures tied to neglect allegations aren't new territory for Anderson County. In February 2024, deputies uncovered 27 malnourished dogs during a drug search at a Flat Rock Road residence, including one puppy that was found dead, according to foxcarolina.com. That case led to the arrest of 34-year-old Tiqua Groves, who was charged with 21 counts of felony ill-treatment of animals and one count of failure to bury a deceased animal.
Those 27 dogs were also taken to Anderson County PAWs for evaluation, the same outlet reported, and the shelter noted at the time that deputies had seized more than 25 dogs from a location due to cruelty or neglect for three consecutive weeks. Anderson County PAWs had also recently taken in dozens of dogs seized from a separate puppy mill in Belton, according to that report — though the evidence does not tie that earlier case to the Cox Street seizure this month.
Anderson County PAWs is now handling the latest arrivals, which will undergo medical and temperament evaluations before decisions are made about adoption or rescue placement.
