Putnam County Man Arrested For Animal Cruelty

A Putnam County man was arrested Thursday in connection to the starvation deaths of over 100 cows.  A grand jury indicted 59-year-old Ricky Dake, of Monterey, on 14 counts of animal cruelty and one count of failure to dispose an animal carcass.  The charges are the result of an investigation led by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office that began in February after authorities responded to a report of cows being shot on Lake Hill Road.  More than 150 cows died from starvation according to the Tennessee State Veterinarian’s Office.  Dake’s Bond has been set at $10,000. (Photo courtesy PCSO)