Animal Rescue Corps removed 47 animals from a Cheatham County, Tennessee, property tied to Cane-9 Rescue and Sanctuary after finding filthy, hazardous conditions and evidence of prolonged neglect. The group included 37 dogs (six nursing), several poultry and a pig; remains of other animals were found on site. The animals were surrendered on Aug. 11 and began receiving comprehensive veterinary care by Aug. 13. Authorities in Georgia have executed warrants and made arrests as part of a broader cruelty and fraud investigation.
47 Animals Rescued From Tennessee 'Sanctuary' Under Investigation For Alleged Abuse And Donor Fraud
Dogs behind fences appearing in two separate environmentsCredit: Animal Rescue Corps
Forty-seven animals — including 37 dogs (six of them still nursing), seven chickens, two turkeys and a pig — were removed from a Cheatham County, Tennessee, property and placed into care after authorities and rescuers found evidence of prolonged neglect. The animals were surrendered to law enforcement on Aug. 11 and taken in by Animal Rescue Corps (ARC), a national nonprofit that handles large-scale cruelty interventions, as part of an operation dubbed Operation Money Trail.
What Rescuers Found
Responders discovered animals living in filthy, unsafe conditions across pens and makeshift kennels. Enclosures were filled with waste, bones and debris, and investigators cataloged the remains of multiple fowl, four goats and a piglet on the grounds. Inside the house where many of the dogs had been kept, ammonia levels near the floor were measured high enough to threaten the animals' ability to breathe.
A room in Tennessee property with scattered debris and mud covering the floorCredit: Animal Rescue Corps
Veterinary examinations revealed widespread signs of prolonged neglect: underweight and dehydrated animals, ear and eye infections, internal parasites and ringworm. One turkey was so severely injured and untreated that veterinarians recommended euthanasia.
Rescue, Care And Placement
By Aug. 13 the animals were undergoing comprehensive veterinary exams, treatment and rehabilitation. The dogs were bathed, vaccinated, fed nutritious food and given behavioral support at ARC's rescue center near Nashville. Staff reported dramatic, positive behavioral changes after initial care: dogs that had stood "like statues" became energetic and affectionate.
ARC team member examining a puppy under a canopyCredit: Animal Rescue Corps
The seven chickens, the surviving turkey and the pig were transferred to Piccolo Farms Animal Sanctuary, an ARC partner that accepts farm animals.
Ongoing Investigation
The property is connected to Cane-9 Rescue and Sanctuary, which is under investigation following searches and arrests in Georgia. WKRN reports that Cane-9 founder Jennifer Lovette Caneup and her brother-in-law, Joshua Caneup, were arrested at separate Cane-9 properties as part of a broader cruelty and fraud probe. Authorities continue to investigate whether the operation was a legitimate rescue that failed or an intentional scheme to exploit donors.
"The nature of this case is deeply disturbing," said ARC executive director Tim Woodward. He warned that some groups present themselves as legitimate rescues to solicit donations but fail to provide even basic standards of care, whether through mismanagement or deliberate fraud.
As the inquiry continues, the rescued animals remain in secure care receiving the medical attention and rehabilitation they need while investigators gather evidence.
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