Andrea Rosebrock 
Many areas of Louisiana have long been notorious for dogfighting and cockfighting and the law has often turned a blind eye. With recent awareness on these horrific bloodsports, it’s not so easy just to ignore it anymore but it seems some in law enforcement still do. In Livingston Parish, Paul Tuennerman was looking for his missing dog late last year and came across a horrific sight, a canal located off Highway 42, between Colyell and French Settlement that’s being used as a dumping ground for dead dogs. There are dozens of them, from skeletal remains, to obviously fresh carcases, many of them mutilated and tortured beyond belief.
This is where Tuenneman found his beloved missing dog, Sadie.
“Yesterday morning, we discovered this new batch of six dogs that are obviously tortured beyond belief. I have had enough,” Tuennerman said.
He’s been going back there every week, taking pictures of the site, documenting evidence. He contacted the Parish sheriff with no results.
Tuennerman says he’s called the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office and has even written emails directly to the sheriff. He says a deputy admitted there was a problem. “He said, ‘Yeah, they been grabbing them up and down 42,” Tuennerman said the deputy told him.
However, Tuennerman goes on to say that so far it’s the only response he’s gotten. “It’s like a layup. This is easy. I’ve given you everything you need to solve this, except for having solved it for you. What is the sheriff waiting for?”
Tuennerman says shortly after the interview, he received a couple of calls and even a visit from some sheriff’s detectives who were disgusted by what they saw. Sheriff’s detectives are canvassing the area, but have not found any evidence of dog fighting. (WAFB)
It took media coverage to finally galvanize the law to get involved in something they should have taken seriously from the start!
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And finally some investigation… wonder if anything will really be done or if there will just be a cursory “look-see” and then sweep it under the carpet?
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You have to wonder how many people have reported missing, lost or stolen dogs and just been blown off by officials. This is evidence, graphic evidence, of horrific, heartless cruelty and no one seemed to care or even inclined to do anything until the media got involved!
There are some seriously dangerous people out there doing this and there is no way that people don’t know. When the law turns a blind eye to such crimes, they are, in effect, saying that it’s ok. This has been going on for years!
And aside from the crimes, what about the danger of the dead animals and the rest of the trash and debris, it’s also seems to be a serious health hazard to me but several agencies are saying it’s not. I know I wouldn’t want to live near there and neither do area residents now that they know what it is their midst.
After seeing what’s there, they want something done. “They need to do something. They can’t just leave those dogs in that canal.” The Department of Health and Hospitals tells 9-News there is no water hazard because there are no wells. The Department of Environmental Quality says the remains are not a hazardous waste so neither agency says they are responsible for the clean up. The sheriff’s department says they are investigating but they cannot pick up the mutilated animals. “Being out here in the country, there’s not much that – I mean the city and parish don’t tend to stuff out here like they tend to the city as much.”
We spoke with parish councilman Don Wheat Tuesday afternoon. The dog dumping site is in his district. He told us he was not familiar with the issue and would look into it. Wayne Martin, who’s of head of Livingston’s Department of Public Works says his office has not received any calls about the carcasses in the canal. He says his office would be responsible for cleaning the site — but not until they get a formal complaint.(WAFB)
Sounds like more “pass the buck” to me and not too many people seem to be really concerned about the dogs and who is killing, torturing and mutilating them.
The monsters doing this need to be caught! They need to be stopped! When will people realize that when the officials you put into office aren’t getting the job done, it’s time to replace them. Law officers are supposed to investigate, fight crime, find criminals and get them off the streets, not turn a blind eye and act like nothing is happening. It shouldn’t take the media to blow the top off something so horrific to make something finally happen.
I AGREE D! THESE MONSTERS HAVE TO BE CAUGHT. JUST BECAUSE LOUISIANA IS PART OF THE UNITED STATES…IT’S ANOTHER PART OF THE THIRD WORLD WHEN IT COMES TO ANIMALS…TYPICAL SOUTH LOW COUNTRY POS THAT DO THESE BARBARIC THINGS TO THESE POOR ANIMALS.
OH! TRY ROPER NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA AND ESPECIALLY ALABAMA.
CHECK THESE STATES FOR ANIMAL ABUSE.
I JUST HOPE ALL THESE POS ROT IN HELL AND EVEN WORSE…HAVE THE SAME THING DONE TO THEM ANS THEY DO TO THESE POOR ANIMALS.
MAKES ME SICK. THE POLICE DON’T CARE..AFTER ALL…IT’S ONLY A DOG!
well I did my part and sent them a well deserved nasty commentary on their lack of humanity : (
Marcy when you are right, you are right. Maybe if all of us pray it hard enough and loud enough and strong enough it will happen ~ Karma ~
This does not surprise me coming out of Louisiana. Sorry to pick on a U.S. state, but, there are horrendous other stories about the lack followup to stark cruelty in Louisiana. Any of the hard working animal welfare orgs in that state have a steep uphill battle.
Anyone else who blogs should put this up. I intend to.
Mr. Tuenneman, first I am so sorry about your dog, Sadie. Please stay on top of this case until it is solved. Keep on the police, who obviously have a lax attitude about it. Get mad enough to do your own investigation if need be. Use hidden cameras on the sight. Hire a private investigator. Make sure the media continues to do followups. Constant pressure is essential. Contact the Animal Legal Defense Fund, they are an excellant source of guidance. Honor your Sadie through solving this ongoing horror! Protect other dogs!
Mr. Tuenneman, I’m so sorry for your loss, RIP sweet Sadie,I pray you didnt have to suffer very much.
Maybe you folks can contact the Govenor and start a petition. I feel so sorry for you and I wish I were on that police force, You can believe that I would eat, sleep, and live this case, untill I found out who the low down scum sucking pieces of rotting S**T were. Considering how many innocent victims are at this place, there has to be more than one person involved. Good Luck, I will be praying for you to bust this attrocity wide open.
The parish sheriff is in on it some criminal they’re afraid to touch. Keep blastin this to the media till you catch this B*****D. They know whose doing it
Mr. Tuenneman, i hope you find peace and keep your heart open.
Gosh! I just don’t know what to say about this. I agree with Veronica….HONOR SADIE, by fighting this until the bitter end! I find it quite disturbing that the local police don’t jump on this one! I would be terrified of these things occuring near my home. Maybe, somewhere else near there, they might find other remains…..not animal. Mmmmmm, now, that’s a very scary thought!
I just can’t imagine what kind of monster is capable of doing this… and people who are turning their back on the poor dogs….
Oh my God, please make them pay for what they are doing!!!
I have a great idea. Park somewhere unseen and make sure you have a gun and a phone with you. When someone comes to dump the poor tortured animals , make them aware you have a gun and that they can run and be shot or wait for the police to come and arrest them that is if the law enforcement will act on the call. If not shoot the SOB and leave their body there!
Barbara, that is definitely a scenario that I could actually see more than one person here doing if they had half an opportunity to do it.
I was just reading today that a necropsy on some of the dogs showed they were shot in the head then dragged and dumped. I don’t know how anyone could possibly believe they have any kind of a right to inflict such heartless cruelty on an innocent living creature. Damn them to hell, and they will be too, I honestly believe that.
D.
How about sneeking up behind them , and bashing them in the head with a baseball bat , then throw them in the water
Terry they want to get everyone that is involved and busting that POS in the head won’t get them that information. They could save that pleasure for later LOL : )
Sounds good to me,except maybe place concealed camcorders all over this site, with a moniture in a parked van (out of sight) catch them on film. Then send the footage to the police and tv networks( that way it can’t turn up missing) Don’t go alone.
Then follow the trash to its home base and then call the police. If you don’t get a response then get on the horn and call in some friends. After you try the Highway Patrol,if no response then you can make a citizens arrest. Good Luck.
Mr. Tuenneman I am truly sorry about Sadie. Please do not stop the fight, do it in her honor. It is time to start making the laws work in our favor or be replaced. These people need to pay some serious dues, perhaps death would be a start. I also feel that if you have an animal, have it micro-chipped and if found, then there should be no question as to punishment. I know that people say God forgives, but I honestly don’t believe that he would forgive these POS. Animals are basically defenseless and to have some POS take their life is so totally wrong. Get petitions in your area for a recall on this so-called law enforcement team and get rid of them too. The law is suppose to honor and protect, not turn a deaf ear. What is wrong with the American public? People sit back and bitch, but no one does a thing. Band together and get your voice heard. There IS strength in numbers, so let’s start banding.
I feel very sorry for Mr Tuenneman , maybe a hidden camera would help , or now with all the press will they change venues , good luck catching these ass holes
I agree, do everything possible to see that justice is done, but watch your back!! We must always keep in mind that some law enforcement people are criminals themselves. You can never be sure that they are not just as treacherous as the people who are abusing and killing dogs. In some instances the police might even be in on it. If that is the case they might not have any qualms about inflicting grievous harm on someone who is trying to get justice for their dog.
Good point Charlie. I was thinking the same thing.
Plead to the president!! Obama needs to act on this! Animal protection groups in the area should spy on these areas. Put up hidden cameras and catch the murderers in act.
How can other states help where Louisiana lacks? Like getting the animals out of there!
birdlynn, I’m afraid that removing all the animals from the state of Louisiana would be impossible.
I think getting rid of all the miserable animal abusing POS that is there and all over for that matter, would be a much better way, and fun to boot.
D ~ any update on this?