According to a civil court filing in Tuscaloosa county on Wednesday, the Tuscaloosa police have obtained two misdemeanor warrants against ex-Alabama defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs for second-degree cruelty to dogs or cats.
The motion, filed by Tuscaloosa county assistant district attorney Thomas Marshall, detailed an incident where Tuscaloosa animal control discovered two dogs—a pitbull and a rottweiler mix—on a property rented by Buggs, who currently plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. Animal control officers found the dogs to be severely malnourished, emaciated, and neglected, with the residence appearing abandoned.
One of the dogs, the pitbull, was found surrounded by feces with no access to food or water, while the rottweiler mix was locked in a metal cage in direct sunlight without access to food or water.
A neighbor informed animal control that the dogs had been on the property’s back porch for at least 10 days, coinciding with the period when Buggs was believed to have moved out. Buggs had been served a notice of termination by the property owner on April 15 due to unpaid rent amounting to over $3,000.
Following the discovery, the pitbull was euthanized due to aggressive behavior and a failed heartworm treatment. Marshall requested an animal protection hearing and an ex parte order placing the surviving dog in the custody of the animal shelter. The court filing also mentioned that the police investigator obtained the warrants against Buggs.
In response to the allegations, Buggs’ agent, Trey Robinson, released a statement denying the claims, stating that Buggs was unaware of the dogs remaining on the property and did not condone animal mistreatment. Robinson also suggested that the charges were part of a broader effort by the city and its police department to tarnish Buggs’ reputation and force the closure of his local business, Kings Hookah Lounge.
Buggs’ recent legal troubles include arrests for menacing and public order crimes related to incidents at the hookah lounge, as well as citations for operating the business without a license and overcrowding. Additionally, Buggs faced charges for failing to file or pay sales tax, which were later withdrawn on the condition of good behavior and compliance with the tax board.
Buggs played for Alabama in 2017 and 2018 before being selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
