A Chattanooga attorney says a dog she adopted from a massive animal cruelty case in Trenton, was surgically silenced—its vocal cords apparently removed.
Cindy Bice, a local attorney and lifelong dog lover, adopted a severely neglected dog named Miracle after more than 200 dogs were rescued from what officials described as “deplorable” conditions. But what Bice thought was a hopeful new beginning quickly turned into something darker.
Bice said Miracle also couldn’t walk and couldn’t keep her tongue in her mouth when she was first rescued. The dog was one of more than 260 animals found crammed into small rooms inside the home, according to investigators.
Miracle has since made progress—she can now walk and run—but Bice believes the damage to her voice is permanent.
The rescue group Fraternity of the Four Paws, which has helped care for the dogs, said Miracle isn’t the only one. Several animals from the same home appear to have undergone similar debarking procedures.
Authorities arrested 44-year-old Nathaniel Currington and 45-year-old Aimee Currington on Wednesday evening. The Dade County Sheriff’s Office says both face seven felony counts of animal cruelty. They remain in custody awaiting a bond hearing.
WTVC-TV reached out to the Georgia Department of Agriculture to confirm whether any dogs had their vocal cords removed, and whether that could lead to additional charges. As of press time, no response has been received.