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The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office has arrested the man responsible for more than 100 deceased cattle in a Monterey animal cruelty case.
Ricky Dake was charged with 14 counts of animal cruelty and one count of failure to dispose of dead live stock Thursday.
Sheriff Eddie Farris said Dake recently moved to the Putnam County community from Missouri and had two locations of starving cattle on Lake Hill Road and Calfkiller Highway.
“As of to date, we have 155 dead cows to where we’ve known to be,” Farris said. “It wasn’t pleasant. It was certainly something that doesn’t happen in our community often. Certainly should not be a reflection with how our farmers, agriculture and live stock owners operate here in this county.”
The case first began in February when deputies responded to a report of cattle being shot near Lake Hill Road. Farris said shortly after, officials found starvation to be the cause of death. Further investigations lead to the second location at Calfkiller Highway.
“First call that we went to was Lake Hill Road,” Farris said. “But we also had another location in Calfkiller outside of Monterey, as well,” Farris said. “So, there were actually two locations. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture certainly helped us in that investigation.”
Farris said Dake is currently being held at the Putnam County Jail with a bond of $10,000. Dake has a court date of June 21st, according to Farris. Officials declined to share further information about Dake as the investigation comes to a close.
