Cruelty charge lands Franklin couple in jail

RUSSELLVILLE -- It's called Heavenly Angel Animal Rescue Center, a safe haven for abandoned dogs and cats.

When law enforcement authorities arrived at the site Thursday morning, it was anything but a safe haven for pets.

Authorities said they found dogs that were visibly malnourished, without water and feeding off dead deer carcasses.

Some were chained to trees, others were crammed into fenced-in areas and two were being kept under an abandoned truck camper shell, while others were running loose.

"It was real nasty and there was a strong odor of dead flesh. It was awful,'' said one deputy who was at the scene.

Franklin County authorities said they were called to investigate the situation after being notified by residents. The facility is east of Russellville.

Franklin County Sheriff Larry Plott said authorities found 43 dogs, including three dead dogs, and five cats.

Robert Lynn Corum, 38, and his 43-year-old wife, Debera Denise, 28686 Alabama 24 East, Russellville, have

each been charged with three counts of second-degree cruelty to cat or dog and having an unauthorized health dump.

The cruelty to cat or dog charge is a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to a year in jail if convicted. The other charge is punishable by a fine.

"It was a real sad situation,'' said Colbert County Animal Control Director Tommy Morson.

Morson's department was called to help the Franklin County Animal Control Department, the sheriff's office and the Franklin County Health Department with the situation.

Morson said his office offered advice and helped video and photograph the animals and the scene.

Plott said some of the animals had been fed deer carcass, and all of them appeared to be vastly malnourished.

"When they released one of the animals, it went straight for an old container with just a small amount of water in it,'' Plott said. "They didn't have any water. They were starving and in terrible shape.''

Investigators said the sides of many of the animals were sunk in, and their ribs were plainly visible.

"They were hoarding the animals and abusing them. There was no rescue to it,'' Morson said.

Authorities said some of the animals were kept in a small cage, while others were in a larger fenced area.

"Many were tied to trees and a lot were just running loose,'' Plott said.

Morson said there were a number of puppies running around loose suffering from Parvo, an intestinal virus that affects dogs. Investigators said they weren't sure how many of those would live.

Morson said his office is working with the Franklin County Animal Control Officer Grady Fuller to try and get the animals well and adopted.

The Corums are being held in the Franklin County Jail on bail of $2,000 each.

Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said the case will be heard in district court. The court date has not been set.

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@-timesdaily.com.