CCSO Arrests Woman Wanted For Animal Cruelty

A Cocke County woman was arrested Friday and charged with animal cruelty. The sheriff’s department says that after several attempts to find and arrest 54 year old Joan Verna Ayers, she was taken into custody on Friday. The sheriff’s department says Ayers had abused a dog and had left the dog out in the snowstorm a couple weeks ago. Lt. Miranda Williams with the Cocke County Sheriff’s office rescued the dog out of the snow storm. Ayers is charged with animal cruelty and neglect and faces multiple charges of contempt of court.