Investigators bust puppy mill, rescue 100+ animals

By: Kristen Kennedy - Email

Updated: Tue 8:34 PM, Dec 13, 2011

An anonymous tip of possible animal hoarding led officers to a home off New Cut Road in Henry County. Authorities took close to 120 dogs off the property and a number of other animals.

"When we came up to the property we spoke to the owner on cell phone and she gave us permission to come onto the property. When we did so there were five outlying buildings plus some kennels," says Henry County's Director of Animal Services Dan Flinkfelt, "there were animals living in feces, urine, no food, no water, no shelter. There was one deceased animal in one of the buildings."

In those five buildings, animal rescue crews found dogs in every condition imaginable. They also found cats, rabbits, gerbils, hermit crabs, hamsters, even a screech owl. Investigators are calling this a mix between a puppy mill and a case of hoarding. They believe the couple bred chihuahuas on the property and then sold them at the flea market.

Police are still looking for the husband and wife who lived on the property. Animal cruelty charges against them are pending.

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