Dog breeder: Humane Society acted unfairly

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Jackson Sun

By Wendy Isom

SELMER - Bethel Springs puppy breeder Melvin Russom, who faces more than 30 counts of animal cruelty charges, was referred to another judge during his first court appearance, on Thursday morning at the Justice Complex in Selmer.

Judge Bob Gray told Russom and his attorney, Chad Hunt, that he was recusing himself because of a conflict of interest. As a private attorney, Gray once represented Russom in a divorce case. Gray set Russom's new court date for July 27.


The McNairy County Humane Society seized 32 dogs from Russom's puppy farm June 6.

In an interview with The Jackson Sun after the dogs were taken, Humane Society investigator Debbie Nowicki described the scene as "horrifying." The dogs, Nowicki said, "were living in cages that had four or five inches of dried feces." She also reported most of the dogs' hair was so heavily matted that "you couldn't even tell what gender they were."
Russom, 74, acknowledged he was behind in the dogs' grooming schedules. "Some of them needed their hair cut," he said, but he didn't acknowledge any other wrongdoing. "My helper had been sick for a week and a half, but he had not let them go hungry," said Russom, who uses a wheelchair and says he isn't able to care for the dogs by himself. He has been breeding dogs for 20 years and selling them at flea markets.

Russom said he would have complied with the regulations if Humane Society officials had given him time.

But Nowicki said, "We offered him an opportunity to repair the problems, but he was terribly unwilling to change anything."

This is not the puppy breeder's first time in court over animal cruelty allegations.

"About two years ago, Mr. Russom was cited for animal cruelty and neglect. So, he knew what the minimum standards were for the state," Nowicki said.

In the prior case, Russom said, "I had some hogs, and they called the deputies on me (about them being housed too close together)."

McNairy County Chief Deputy A.C. Felker and Deputy Sheriff Kim Hurley assisted in the arrest of Russom in the dog case.

Cruelty to animals is a misdemeanor, Felker said, adding that if found guilty, "you could face up to 11 months, 29 days per offense."

Russom, who is not being jailed, might face additional charges for not having the animals properly vaccinated.

"They were in very small cages. Some were four or five feet off the ground," Felker said of the dogs.

Russom said he housed the dogs that way because he thought "as long as they were up in cages, they didn't need vaccinations."

Nowicki doesn't buy Russom's explanation.

"Ignorance is not a defense," she said. "He's been breeding dogs way too long. It is really a public health issue."

Russom's case has attracted local and even international attention. The McNairy County Humane Society has received more than 100 phone calls seeking to help. There is a waiting list of foster families who want to care for the dogs after the court ruling, Nowicki said.

Since the dogs have been in the care of the Humane Society, Nowicki said, "They're doing wonderfully."

Russom said he is glad to know his dogs are getting attention, but he'd rather be the one to do it.

"I want my dogs back, and I'd do just what they want done. I offered to do it before they took my dogs," said Russom, who claims the Humane Society is trying to make an example out of him.