Rusk County Sees Spike in Animal Cruelty Calls

HENDERSON — The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office says animal abuse calls reached a record high in January. KETK reports animal control personnel had a total of 16 calls last month. That’s more than the previous three months combined. But Sheriff Jeff Price says don’t let the numbers startle you. “People are being cautious and worrying after the story came out about the dog that had frozen to death back during the very cold weather that we had,” says Price, “and people are just more aware, and they’re watching out for the animals now. So that’s where most of our spike has come from.” He says most of the calls are for dogs, but none of them have been in grave danger.