Two people charged in connection with running what law enforcement officials described as a puppy mill have been sentenced in Tate County Circuit Court.
Documents show Teresa Warren Ashcraft, 68, was ordered to serve 30 days in the Tate County Jail and four years, 11 months post-release supervision after pleading guilty to one count of causing injury to a domestic animal produced for profit. She was also sentenced to three years post-release supervision to run concurrently on nine counts of causing injury to a domestic animal produced for profit.
Darrell Wesley Ashcraft, 72, was sentenced 10 days in the Tate County Jail and four years, 11 months, and 20 days post-release supervision after pleading guilty to one count of causing injury to a domestic animal produced for profit. He was also ordered to serve three years post-release supervision to run concurrently on nine counts of causing injury to a domestic animal produced for profit.
Neither defendant is allowed to own or possess any canines, according to a court order.
The Ashcrafts were indicted by the Grand Jury in October of last year after deputies confiscated over 170 dogs of various breeds from Ashcraft Kennels in the 2200 block of East Tate Road in Coldwater on Feb. 3, 2020.
Captain Lisa Sanders, investigator with the Tate County Sheriff’s Office, told the Tate Record deputies obtained a search warrant after receiving information regarding possible animal abuse on the property.
Sandy Williams, director of the Humane Society in Tunica County, said several sources alerted her dogs were being neglected at the operation she described as a “puppy mill” before notifying authorities.
Volunteers from local animal rescue groups removed several dogs from a small building and others from kennels and cages at other locations on the property, according to Williams. Many of the dogs received medical treatment on scene from a veterinarian.
Williams said over 100 dogs were found living in kennels and cages stacked ceiling-high in a building the size of a one-car garage and many of the animals had filthy, matted fur. The dogs were a variety of small breeds including Chihuahuas, Maltese, Yorkies, poodles and miniature Doberman pinschers.
