Homeless man surrenders 31 dogs he lived with in Tenn. woods

A Tennessee man surrendered 31 dogs he was living with in the woods of a state park on Friday, according to officials. 

Animal Rescue Corps recovered the animals from their owner, who was living in Natchez Trace State Park, about 120 miles northeast of Memphis, according to the organization's president, Scotlund Haisley.

Haisley said the dogs' owner had lived in the woods for at least 16 years.

"It was a very interesting, unique situation," Haisley said. "I wouldn't call it hoarding, and he wasn't abusing or neglecting the animals for profit. He was providing care for the animals."

Haisley said the owner was having health issues, and the community had started to come together to get him medical attention, but the man did not want to leave his dogs.

"He wasn't going to address his medical needs until he knew his dogs were safe," Haisley said.

Haisley said the dogs suffered from internal and external parasites, broken teeth, cuts, and one dog had a broken leg. Another dog had injuries that appeared to have been sustained years ago, Haisley said.

Animal Rescue Corps teams responded to a request for assistance in Henderson County to rescue the animals.

The man, who has not been identified, surrendered his dogs to the organization, and Haisley said Animal Rescue Corps is not recommending he face criminal charges because the surrender was voluntary.

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