Starving animals found at his Canoe house
Starving dogs removed from Ellis' property in Canoe
Animal control officer tries to lure dog with treat
Sheriff's deputies provide food for starving cats
An Atmore man has been arrested on 10 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals after sheriff's deputies went to his 177 Randolph Ave., home and discovered "numerous cats and dogs that had been starved with the rib cage protruding under the skin".
Billy Earl Ellis, 53, was arrested March 5 and booked into the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton.
During a bond hearing Monday, Sheriff Heath Jackson told District Judge Eric Coale that the dogs and cats had no food or fresh water and deputies were having a hard time catching the animals.
"While we were there a cat fell off a truck and a dog grabbed it and started eating it," Jackson told the judge. "It showed they were hungry."
Jackson said there were 20-plus animals on the property and more charges are coming. When asked for a recommendation on bond, Jackson said at least $100,000.
Public Defender Wade Hartley asked for a signature bond, noting the bond schedule on the Class C felony goes up to $10,000.
Judge Coale said there were 10 counts and set the bond at $100,000. He told Hartley he could file a motion to have the bond reduced and he would consider it.
One condition of his bond if he gets out is that Ellis not possess any animals.
Sheriff's deputies and animal control officers from the city of Atmore were back at the house, located directly behind Escambia Academy, Tuesday trying to catch all the animals.
Jackson said there were at least 20 dogs and two litters of puppies. He said there were at least 15 cats but it was hard to get an accurate count.
Jackson added that deputies brought the animals some food to lure them from under the house and said some looked like they'd never eaten before. One dog was tied to a fence with a heavy chain.
