Former Leitchfield resident charged with animal torture after emaciated dogs, mummified dogs, dog carcasses found on property in Edmonson Co.

A former Leitchfield resident arrested after officials found dead and emaciated dogs on his property has been again arrested for torturing and abusing animals in Edmonson County.

On Thursday around noon, the Edmonson County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by Grayson County Sheriff Norman Chaffins and Grayson County Animal Control Officer Todd Saltsman regarding 61-year-old Greg K. Rigdon “having numerous dogs on his property that were not being fed or watered,” according to the Edmonson County Sheriff’s Office.

Edmonson County Deputy Wally Ritter soon arrived at Rigdon’s home in the 400 block of Indian Creek Road, with the suspect agreeing to show Ritter his animals.

Ritter discovered multiple dogs were severely malnourished and with no food or water. Some of the dogs had rotting animals or bones of animals in their cages, “which Rigdon stated he had put in there for the dogs to eat on,” according to police.

He had one empty bag of dog food and told Ritter that no dog food was on the property.

Rigdon was arrested and charged with five counts of second-degree cruelty to animals and lodged in the Hart County Jail.

A short time later, Ritter was contacted by Edmonson County Animal Control and told that additional deceased dogs had been found on the property.

The animal control officer, police said, located a mummified dog inside a doghouse that had the collar and chain still around its neck (see photo below). There were no signs of food or water.

Furthermore, there were multiple dog collars found, along with the skeletal remains of dogs.

The discovery resulted in Rigdon being additionally charged with the torture of a dog/cat with serious physical injury or death, a felony.

In October 2017, Saltsman and then-Grayson County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Corey Knochel found two dead dogs, six nearly dead dogs and over two dozen remains of dead chickens on Rigdon’s property on Anna Lane in Leitchfield.

He was arrested and charged with multiple counts of cruelty to animals.

Moments before jury selection was to begin in his trial, Rigdon pled guilty to animal cruelty and agreed to serve a one-year jail sentence, with all except 30 days suspended. He was given two-years probation, agreed to pay $570 in restitution to compensate the Leitchfield Animal Shelter for veterinarian bills, surrendered his rights to animals seized at his home , and was precluded from owning or living in a home with animals for two years.

Rigdon has also previously been charged in Hart County with cruelty to animals.

(Photo l-r: Greg K. Rigdon, dog bones found on Rigdon’s property)