Columbia, SC (WLTX) - Richland County deputies are searching for a man facing felony animal cruelty charges.
Elias Franklyn Sanders, 30, is wanted in connection with an animal cruelty case involving malnourished and dead animals in the 2800 block of McCord’s Ferry Road.
Officers say they'd gotten a complaint from a citizens on September 22 about a problem on the property, and when they arrived, they found the dogs.
Deputies say they discovered animals in various stages of malnourished, including nine adult pit-mix-type dogs on chains, four puppies in a chain-link kennel and one puppy on a 2.5-foot chain. The remains of five dogs, including one skeleton, were found.
Officers say some of the dogs had no shelter, while others had barrels or partial dog crates. Most of the dog bowls had no food and had sand or pine needles in them. A few of the dog bowls had dirty rain water in them, deputies add.
The 14 animals were turned over to the Richland County Animal Care.
Charles Clayton Stover Jr., 37 and Angela Sue Gedra, 49, were arrested on Oct. 11, and have each been charged in this case with six counts each of felony animal cruelty.
