Hoarding, child neglect - 14 dogs seized
Trenton, GA (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Aug 27, 2009
County: Dade

Charges: Misdemeanor, Felony Non-CTA
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Kim Atchley

"I don't really know what to say," says Kim Atchley, clutching a dog in her hands. "I'm just worried about my babies...my son and my granddaughter."

That's all that Kim Atchley had to say to us as she watched rescue workers take her pets from her home off Page Avenue in Dade County this afternoon. The same home where, police say, two children also lived.

"So far we've counted twelve--there's a lasa, a couple of poodles," says Monda Wooten with the Dade County Animal Board, as she's talking on the phone.

A total of 14 dogs were discovered in the home. All were taken, plus the two children.

Outside the home, you can see a dead dog in a pin, along with filthy, moldy water. Inside the home, Anne Brown with the Dade County Animal Board says conditions aren't much better.

"Inside the home? Bad...bad. I don't know how you would clean it," says Anne Brown, also with the Animal Board.

The dogs, she says, don't appear to be abused--but there are signs of neglect.

"I think they had been fed but their hair was matted together, they was in terrible shape," says Brown.

Dade County authorities say they got a tip and decided to act. And animal control volunteers say this appears to be a case where someone who has the best of intentions, loses control.

Brown says, "you can not have that many animals in one place and give them the attention they need."

Dade County Sheriff Patrick Cannon is calling this a sad situation, and one of the worst he's seen.

But he says the welfare of the animals is not his only concern.

"The real case here is about the kids," he says.

Atchley faces two counts of felony child abuse and 13 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty. No word yet on when her court date will be.

The animals will be put up for adoption. Information on where and how they can be adopted by clicking on the links on the Associated Links page.

References

• « GA State Animal Cruelty Map
  « More cases in Dade County, GA

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