Preliminary Hearing Set for Woman Charged with Cruelty

By Carrie Pond

Mayfield, KY – A Mayfield woman allegedly involved in a state-wide dog-fighting ring was arraigned Wednesday in Graves Circuit Court. Amy DeBerry is charged with 30 counts of cruelty to animals after Graves County police found 52 dogs in her home and 20 more chained two miles from her home on November 5th. The following day, 11 dead pit bulls were found shot in the head in a McCracken County river. Investigators believe the two incidents point to a dog-fighting operation. DeBerry's attorney Dennis Null says Deberry claims the dogs were used for breeding, not dog fighting. Her husband, Joanal DeBerry, also faces animal cruelty charges as well as drug charges. Both have preliminary hearings next Wednesday.