FULTON COUNTY, Ga. – The Fulton County animal shelters are a little more full after more than 80 dogs were rescued from a home in ‘deplorable conditions’ Sunday afternoon.
A man was arrested and charged with 53 counts of animal cruelty, 53 counts of unsanitary conditions, 53 counts of no Fulton County license and 1 count of no special for having too many animals. Authorities said those counts were based on the number of dogs--53--initially believed to have been on the property. Now that investigators have increased the number to more than 80 dogs, the number of counts against the owner will increase to more than 80 for each of the charges of cruelty, unsanitary conditions and no license.
“I was shocked,” Tim Poorman with Fulton County Animal Services said. “As human beings, we domesticated these animals so it’s our job to take care of them.”
Poorman said a lot of times with dog hoarding situations they find dogs with internal parasites, inbreeding, and in bad health. Of the dozens of dogs rescued on Sunday, one died. Poorman said that that dog was being attacked by other dogs at the time and later died once at the shelter. While on the property, Animal Control officers did not find any dead dogs or puppies.
Poorman said Animal Control had been called to the home at 255 Lori Lane in Riverdale, Georgia once before, in 2014, when a neighbor complained of too many dogs at the house. The man who answered the door back then said he had three dogs, according to Poorman, and wouldn't let officials in.
As for the rescued dogs now in the shelter, temporary foster families are needed.
“We could definitely use fosters for the dogs that are currently here,” Poorman said. “Not [just] these specific dogs," but others, as well, "so we can make room for the dogs that we just brought in.”
Fulton County Animal Services said you can stop by the shelter between 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. or email foster@fultonanimalservices.com for more information. They ask you to bring a valid form of identification.
