A 26-year-old Radcliff woman faces 35 counts of second-degree cruelty to animals, but court records reveal this is not her first alleged offense. On Friday, Radcliff police and Hardin County Animal Control discovered a gray scene at the home of Morgan Barrick. at Hallmark Place. According to court records, 21 dead dogs were found inside the home and a pickup truck. Fourteen other canines were alive, but extremely malnourished. An arrest citation says that “there was a very small amount of food in the residence and there were no bowls of water.” A Massachusetts woman who used Barrick’s services says she was a highly recommended dog sitter and breeder. “She came to my house, sat on my couch, and told me what was best for him and that she would make him a better dog and a great show,” Maryann Carter-Laventure said. Laventure says she trusted Barrick with her Dogue de Bordeaux, Cyrus, when he sent him to Kentucky to train with her in 2021. But she says Barrick’s behavior became unusual and she stopped answering her calls. She says that Barrick later called her saying that Cyrus died from being bloated. But, according to a necropsy, the dog was underweight and had burns on his body. “The police department ended up pressing charges against her when they received the photos of Cyrus and the horrible condition he was in,” Carter-Laventure said. Laventure’s criminal case against Barrick has been delayed, but Barrick is scheduled to return to court this month for a pretrial conference in that case and to be arraigned on new charges. Since Cyrus’s death, Laventure posted her story to try to warn others. She is also pushing for stronger animal cruelty laws in Kentucky. Currently, second degree animal cruelty is a misdemeanor. Laventure also believes that if Barrick’s alleged actions were addressed earlier in her case, this could have been prevented. “I am beyond disgusted, I am heartbroken for so many dogs; if people had heeded my warnings,” she said. “I would like him to take responsibility for what he did to my dog and many other dogs and pay the price for what he has done.” Barrick was an assistant basketball coach at John Hardin High School. A school spokesperson confirmed that she was fired today. Barrick is currently out on bail.
A 26-year-old Radcliff woman is facing 35 counts of second-degree cruelty to animals, but court records reveal this is not her first alleged offense.
On Friday, Radcliff police and Hardin County Animal Control discovered a grizzly scene at the Morgan Barrick home on Hallmark Place.
According to court records, 21 dead dogs were found inside the home and a pickup truck. Fourteen other canines were alive, but extremely malnourished. An arrest citation says that “there was a very small amount of food in the residence and there were no bowls of water.”
A Massachusetts woman who used Barrick’s services says she was a highly recommended dog sitter and breeder.
“She came to my house, sat on my couch, and told me what was best for him and that she would make him a better dog and put on a great show,” said Maryann Carter-Laventure.
Laventure says she trusted Barrick with her Dogue de Bordeaux, Cyrus, when she sent him to Kentucky to train with her in 2021. But she says Barrick’s behavior became unusual and he stopped answering her calls. She says that Barrick later called her saying that Cyrus died from being bloated. But, according to a necropsy, the dog was underweight and had burns on its body.
“The police department ended up pressing charges against her when they received the photos of Cyrus and the horrible condition she was in,” Carter-Laventure said.
Laventure’s criminal case against Barrick has been delayed, but Barrick is scheduled to return to court this month for a pretrial conference in that case and to be arraigned on new charges.
Since Cyrus’ death, Laventure posted his story to try to warn others. He is also pushing for stricter animal cruelty laws in Kentucky. Currently, second degree animal cruelty is a misdemeanor.
Laventure also believes that if Barrick’s alleged actions were addressed earlier in his case, this could have been prevented.
“I am beyond disgusted, I am heartbroken for so many dogs; if people had heeded my warnings,” he said. “I would like her to take responsibility for what she did to my dog and many other dogs and pay the price for what she has done.”
Barrick was an assistant basketball coach at John Hardin High School. A school spokesperson confirmed that she was fired today.
Barrick is currently out on bail.