I feel for him! In rural areas, the poor Beagles are considered expendable. Once they get too old to hunt or are injured, they're all too often just taken out into the woods and let out of the truck to fend for themselves--or worse. It takes a special person to minister to the unwanted hound dogs.

There is no justice for animal lovers, it seems. I don't think he's a hoarder, either. Just yesterday, I was reading about a 59-year-old man who dragged his dog behind his truck down a road and when confronted by a witness he then threw his dog in the back of the truck, said the dog was okay and hit the dog on the head to show it. He got unsupervised probation, although the judge is reconsidering due to an outpouring of outrage.

Ya, Vick gets less than two years (that's an outrage, too) and this guy could get 12? That's crazy! Sometimes we are so far behind the times when it comes to animals and they're treatment/care/value as beings that future generations will look back on our time and think us no better than we think of the slavery generations. That would be correct more often than not, unfortunately.

These dogs look well fed and happy. They also are not puppies. Isn't there any other crimes the county could be prosecuting besides noise ordinances?

John,

Thanks for running this story. This case has raised a lot of questions about abuses in our policing policies.

The idea that our courts would send a pet owner to jail for up to twleve years is for what is a first time barking charge is reprehensable.

I guess I should have been "grateful" when the solicitor recommended only a two year sentence instead.

I rejected that and any sentence that would have lead to even ONE of my hounds being put to death.

The story that appeared in the AJC generated a visit from local ABC WTBS news reporter Rachael Kim.

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/16353885/detail.html

Those of us who advocate for responsible pet ownership must speak out against a court system that in itself is acting irresponsible by suggesting any pet is "dispoable" in any sentencing arrangement.

My court date has been set for June 12th 2008. There I will present evidence that not only is the sentencing "cruel and unusual" but that in fact the hounds are innocent of the charges as well.

I wish you the best of luck, Mr. DeCarlo, and hope not only that you will spend no time behind bars but can find a way to keep all your beloved dogs.

Good point, Mr. DeCarlo,

The dogs are innocent of any crimes, but they will be sentenced also.

John,

Yes, hoarding is a sickness that ultimately punishes the animals. But having had between 22 and 28 hounds living with me for five years now with absolutely NO citations or warnings on care and health issues this is not the case here.

I have always operated above what the law requires. In Georgia I have built a reputation as the beagle rescuer who will take in the abused, neglected, older or special needs cases that otherwise would simply be killed.

With that comes the fact that these dogs require more time in foster care, more resources and ultimately more care in finding them a responsible home.

Two of my current fosters that I am unwilling to give up (or have killed) I have provided over $4,000 in vetting alone. How I choose to use my time and rsources is one of OUR rights that our forefathers fought and died for.

A realtor's right to speculate on the housing market (especially a foolish realtor trying to cash in on THIS market) should never trump my rights in "pursuit of my happiness", especially when my passion oerates within the law.

My dreams are simple ones of showing compassion towards those who suffer - I'm not interested in compiling huge wealth that ultimately serves noi function on my true judgment day.

We are judged by our wealth of compassionate acts not on the crazy dreams of toys we own.

I will remind your readers that I have always proclaimed the hounds innocence no matter what the perception that barking honds might percieve.

Those of us who don't speak out against abusive policing powers only show disrespect for all of our brave soldiers who fought and died trying to protect those rights.

This is NOT a county with rights for the privledged but a country with a rigt to follow all of our dreams.

My dream just happens to be helping amazingly funny hound dogs. I only wish humans were as forgiving as the hounds I have had the privledge of helping.

These dogs ae so loyal I have witnessed even abused dogs wanting to go back to the very owners who abused or neglected them.

Of course, that is only a short time loyalty that is replaced once I gain their trust.

People who would like to support the hounds and I can do so by seaking out for the senseless killing that goes on in their own community.

We, as a nation of pet owners who love our companion friends and the positive supportive role thy play in our lives owe them that.

Please forgive my wireless keyboard - it knows not what it does (lol).

Randy,
Not everybody is a huge fan of Kinky Friedman, but my husband enjoys his books enormously. Kinky runs a "no kill" animal shelter in Texas, among other animal causes. My husband was reading one of his novels this past weekend and shared this passage with me: "I'm only saying that if you look into the eyes of a stray animal, you can sometimes find the sanctuary of the God of your choosing. If you can make room in your heart to give that animal sanctuary, you truly have opened the gates of heaven a little bit wider."

I love all dogs, but I love Beagles with all my heart, and one recycled Beagle in particular. Thank you sincerely for providing a loving home to these dogs, and I hope and pray you will be able to continue doing so.

Anne

i don't believe this man is a horder either, but also on the other side of the coin is that a beagle or bassett barking or howling is one of the most annoying sounds there is, that is why i don't own either, although i have no experience with the bassett, i do have with the beagle and the beagle is an absolutely wonderful animal for a family or a kids first dog, i don't really believe in having a dog debarked but if it was a case of these dogs being put to sleep or being debarked i would go that route as when one of these 2 breeds of dogs gets going it is like fingernails across a chalkboard, bless you for taking in and caring for these special dogs, but your neighbors deserve some piece and quiet too, i hope there can be some kind of understanding so the dogs get to keep their home and the neighbors get some quiet,

I helped my friend adopt one of Randy's beagles in January 2008. I was impressed to see Randy at my local Petsmart practially every Sunday from November 2007 through January 2008, sitting among 10 or so beagles he was trying to adopt out. My friend adopted Wilbur, a dog that is about 10 years old. Randy rescued Wilbur from a shelter where Wilbur had been dumped, and where he would otherwise have been euthanized.

I got a complaint from the person who lives next to me. We live in the country because of my barking dogs. I have 5 beagles, 4 of which were rescured from a shelter. Animal control will proberly come out tomorrow. I have 4 acres of land. I have 11 dogs outside but in large pens. The beagles do not bark as much as the other dogs. There is no law that says I can not have 11 dogs out side. I do not know what I am going to do. I guess I will have to try and adopt them out. Allen