Madison County, Tennessee – On November 2, Jody Pickens, District Attorney General, announced the indictment of former Madison County Sheriff’s Deputy Chloe Megan Swann regarding the September 18-19, 2026, death of K9 Bart. Swann is facing one count of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals, a class “E” felony, which carries a potential penalty of 1-2 years in the Tennessee Department of Correction and/or a fine up to $3000.
K9 Bart, a 2 1/2-year-old German shepherd, was found dead in an outside kennel on September 19. According to reports, K9 Bart did not have access to water and died from heatstroke after being left in the outside kennel for 36 hours.
According to Sheriff Wiser, the K9 handler had not been home during the extended period of time that the German shepherd was confined to the kennel; the heat index reached 101 degrees during that time. A necropsy determined that Bart died from heatstroke due to “severe dehydration.”
Swann’s bond has been set at $5000.00, and she is scheduled to appear for arraignment in Madison County, Tennessee, Circuit Court, Division III on November 9, 2026, at 8:30 a.m.
Support National Animal News — shop official merchandise to help fund
independent investigations and reporting.
