Ninety-six pit bulls were discovered tethered to stakes in a yard south of Newkirk Tuesday without food or water.
"On three-fourth of them, you could see their rib cage and back bones," Kay County Undersheriff Steve Kelley said. "None of them had any food or water.
"They were mostly on three-to-four foot log chain stakes in the yard," he said.
Ten dogs were found in a barn without food or water.
Several were aggressive but for the most part, they were just hungry, Kelley said.
An anonymous call led to the discovery. The utilities were on and the renter traced through the utility company.
Jerry Southern, 32, Wichita, rented the place. He drove to the scene from Wichita after being located.
"His story – that he raises them and sells them, but nobody has been buying them," Kelley said. "We made him feed them before we arrested him."
Southern has a long rap sheet going back to 1994. He was last arrested in November for numerous things including leaving the scene of an accident. Kelley said Southern has also been charged in the past with cruelty to animals and was ordered by the court not to possess any Pit Bulls.
"He said he stayed there every once in a while but I think most of the time he is in Wichita," Kelley said. "He says he feeds them once a day – two to three sacks a day."
With 96 animals, that would amount to only a handful per dog, according to Kelley.
The sheriff’s office is currently asking for donations of dog food. It will take five to six bags of food a day to feed 96 animals, according to Kelley. Donations may be left at the sheriff’s office at the Kay County Courthouse in Newkirk.
Kelley is also contacting area veterinarians to see if some will volunteer their time to check the animals and is hoping to find help from an organization in Utah that takes care of abandoned Pit Bulls. Kelley may be reached at the sheriff’s office at 580-362-2517.
"It was kind of unnerving walking through the Johnson Grass and the tall weeds with all them Pit Bulls," Kelley said.
Southern was arrested for cruelty to animals and may face 96 counts.
