The man who allegedly abandoned five puppies and a female German shepherd dog on Spencer Road in 2021 will be serving jail time. 

Ronnie Glenn Bain was charged with six counts of aggravated cruelty to animals after his actions resulted in the death of four puppies. He appeared in Circuit Court on Wednesday morning. He was sentenced to serve two years in Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) and pay $15,000 in restitution to Animal Control plus court costs. He is also not allowed to own any animals. He received two years for all six counts, but the charges run concurrently. 

On Oct. 1, 2021 a driver noticed a basket on the side of the road containing five puppies. The driver took two puppies and left the other three thinking they were dead. The driver then called Warren County Animal Control and Adoption Center and was advised to take the animals to the Sparta Road Veterinary Clinic. 

That same day, another driver passed by and saw the basket of puppies and noticed one was moving. This driver took them home and sought veterinary care in Crossville for the puppy that was still alive. The veterinarian stated the puppy was in such bad shape it needed to be euthanized. 

The following week, Animal Control was called to the same area regarding a female dog and the staff determined her to be the mother of the puppies. An investigation ensued and led to the suspect being identified as Bain. The female German shepherd and only one puppy survived. The surviving puppy was fittingly named Lazarus and was taken into Animal Control’s care. 

Warren County Animal Control Director Sherri Bradley is pleased with the result of this case. 

“We are grateful to our District Attorney’s Office and our Sheriff’s Department for pushing this case and finding him guilty,” said Bradley. “We thank the community for coming together to make sure we found the perpetrator.”