Hearing to be set in ‘puppy mill’ case
Citizens air concerns at BOC meeting
BY ANGELA GARY
County officials say a forfeiture hearing must be held to determine if the 300 puppies taken from a Nicholson kennel can be adopted, or whether they will be returned to their owners.
More than 50 concerned citizens attended a Jackson County Board of Commissioners meeting Monday to hear an update on the case.
The citizens repeatedly asked for a time line on when the case will be resolved. County attorney Jane Range said it would be up to court officials to set the forfeiture hearing. BOC chairman Pat Bell said the case has been a priority for the county and it will continue to be so until it is resolved.
Three weeks ago, more than 300 puppies were removed from a Nicholson kennel following the arrests of the owners after allegations of abuse and neglect. The kennel license has been revoked by the Georgia Department of Agriculture and state officials say the owners will likely never be allowed to operate a kennel again because of the condition of the puppies.
David Gunter, an attorney representing the state department of agriculture, said that the kennel owners could be facing up to $1 million in fines. He said the investigation is continuing by the state into the civil case. He said it would be up to the district attorney to pursue criminal charges.
District attorney Rick Bridgeman was not at the meeting but he said, when contacted, that the criminal case is “in the early stages of review.”
“The next grand jury meets in May,” Bridgeman added. “We aren’t involved in the impoundment process other than to give our consent to release or dispose of the animals at issue prior to resolution of the criminal case.”
Kennel owners and operators, Marie, Jennifer and Ronnie Hughes and Brandy Stone, were all charged with misdemeanor and federal animal cruelty charges.
At Monday’s BOC meeting, a report was given on the condition of the puppies found at the Nichoslon kennel, including broken bones, open sores, skin conditions, dehydrated, malnourished, severe dental issues and high parasite levels.
“They had mud and feces all over them,” said one woman whose organization has housed many of the puppies since they were removed from the Nicholson kennel.
Among the deformities reportedly found on the dogs that were still being bred include puppies with broken backs, tumors, no jaw and no feet. An autopsy of a puppy found at the kennel revealed that the cause of death was “slow starvation.”
“Every one of those animals needed vet care,” one of the caregivers said. “…Some will have permanent scars. Many will have ongoing issues because of the in-breeding.”
Dr. Ray DeLuca, a supervisor with the department of agriculture, said the case is one of the worst he has seen in his 12 years with the state. He said that at least in the notorious Michael Vick case, the dogs had been taken care of.
County officials said the case has been a priority since it was reported and they are continuing to push for the forfeiture hearing to be held as soon as possible. The animals are being housed in several rescue shelters until the case is resolved.
