Hearing set April 17 in ‘puppy mill’ case
BY ANGELA GARY
A hearing on whether or not some 300 dogs from a Nicholson “puppy mill” will be confiscated and released for adoption is slated for later this month.
A forfeiture hearing has been set for 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 17, before Judge David Motes in the Jackson County courthouse on the case.
In February, 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 The kennel license has been revoked by the Georgia Department of Agriculture and state officials said the owners would likely never be allowed to operate a kennel again because of the condition of the dogs.
David Gunter, an attorney representing the state department of agriculture, said at a board of commissioners meeting in March 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 any criminal charges.
District attorney Rick Bridgeman said Tuesday that the criminal case is “still in the early stages of review.”
“We have met several times with Jackson County Animal Control and understand that they are continuing to catalog and process the documentary and other evidence,” Bridgeman said. “Once that has been completed and we have received their complete investigative report, we will make appropriate decisions in the case.”
Kennel owners and operators, Marie, Jennifer and Ronnie Hughes and Brandy Stone, were all charged with misdemeanor and federal animal cruelty charges.
At the March Jackson County BOC meeting, a report was given on the condition of the puppies found at the kennel. It said the animals were found with broken bones, open sores, skin conditions, dehydration, malnourishment, severe dental issues and high parasite levels.
