Joe P. Asher

Staff Writer

A Harlan County man was arrested on Tuesday on seven charges of torture of a dog or cat.

The Harlan County Sheriff’s Office reports Thomas Fee, 36, of Cumberland, was arrested by deputy Matt Cope.

Cope stated he had been investigating the case with the assistance of Harlan County Animal Control Officer Willie Galloway.

According to a press release, Fee allegedly kept six dogs and one cat at a residence he rented in Blair. Fee had not lived in the house for approximately two months, but had left the animals at the residence. Two dogs were found inside the residence and three dogs were found outside the house.

The release also states the remains of what appeared to be a small dog was found inside a kennel at the residence, and the petrified remains of a cat was located in the garage.

Fee allegedly admitted to police that he had left the animals without food or water for up to a week. All animals found alive were underweight, severely dehydrated and malnourished.

Fee was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center with bond set at $5,000 full cash. Cumberland Police Officer Jason Blanton assisted in the investigation.

In other police activity:

* The Harlan County Sheriff’s Office arrested Kevin Long, 23, of Smith, on Tuesday on charges of second-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

* Paul R. Goddard, 41, of Nolansburg, was arrested on Tuesday by the Harlan County Sheriff’s Office on a charge of fugitive from another state. The Darke County, Ohio authorities requested the assistance of the Harlan County Sheriff’s Office in serving a felony theft warrant on Goddard.

* Dennis Grubbs, 26, of Cawood, was arrested on Wednesday by the Harlan County Sheriff’s Office on charges of first-degree trafficking a controlled substance and second-degree trafficking a controlled substance.

* Steve Williams, 30, of Cawood, was arrested by the Harlan County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday on charges of theft of services and second-degree criminal mischief.

Reach Joe P. Asher at 606-573-4510 or jasher@heartlandpublications.com