A local man accused of 10 counts of animal cruelty pleaded no contest to a plea agreement, which dismissed nine of the charges and reduced one to a misdemeanor.
Dale Avery Allison, 42, received a three-year deferred sentence in Cherokee County District Court on Dec. 6 after entering the plea agreement.
Charges were first filed against the defendant on Aug. 7, after authorities found several pit bulldogs with scars and injuries inside a building on Muskogee Avenue.
According to reports, authorities on Oct. 19, 2022, had responded to assist Animal Control, which had received several complaints about an odor and excessive barking coming from the building. When they entered the building, officers saw multiple cages that reportedly contained pit bulldogs, while one cage contained a cat, and two cages housed what appeared to be Pomeranian-mix dogs with matted hair.
None of the animals had water, observers said, and only one of the dogs had food. One of the dogs also had an open wound on the right side of its face, which appeared to be infected and swollen. A veterinarian was called to the scene and told police the dog with the wound needed immediate medical care.
Three of the dogs were reported to have multiple scars on their faces, front legs, and chest, and most of them had their ears clipped or their ears were missing.
During the investigation, Allison purportedly told authorities he was a dog breeder and owned a business called Happy Valley Bullies. He added that the dogs were rescued. When authorities asked Allison how the dog’s face became injured, he told police that approximately a month earlier, when he let the dogs out to relieve themselves, another dog bit the animal. Allison claimed to have taken the dog to a veterinarian for treatment.
The defendant first pleaded not guilty to all charges during his initial appearance on Aug. 29.
Allison was represented by Bryce Lair out of Jay, while Assistant District Attorney Justin Vann was listed as having represented the state. Special District Judge Gary Huggins presiding over the case.