By: Vince Lennon
Trenton, GA – The dog days of summer took a disgusting turn towards neglect and cruelty Monday in Dade County, with the latest bust of a suspected backyard breeder where more than 100 dogs were seized.
Dade County Public Information Officer Carey Anderson would not disclose the actual location where the Georgia Department of Agriculture reportedly counted and catalogued more than 100 canines in varying degrees of distress.
The animals were given medical checkups before dispersed between local rescues and those as far as Grundy County, Tennessee and Cherokee County, Georgia.
Trenton City Commissioner Monda Wooten, who serves on the TDAC advisory committee and also privately heads the Dade County Pet Project, describes the situation as a backyard breeder that devolved into a hoarding case. Wooten says many of the french bulldogs and other breeds found have been living in filth, with feces matted into their coats. Wooten also said ten cats were also taken from the scene.
Wooten says Monday’s rescue was the largest of five within the past two weeks in Dade County.
She says she was alerted to the situation at the conclusion of the bi-monthly TDAC advisory committee meeting.
Dade County PIO Anderson said Trenton Police were on the scene but did not elaborate on any potential criminal charges against the animals’ owner.
Commissioner Wooten says this and previous animal hoarding cases underscores the need for the Trenton-Dade Animal Shelter, a joint animal control facility effort between the city and county. Anderson says the construction is hoped to be complete within a year.
The Friends of TDAC is a new non-profit organization accepting donations to the community shelter effort.