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Case #1582 Rating: 2.8 out of 5
Backyard breeder - 80 cats and dogs, more
Gainesville, GA (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Jul 1, 2003
County: Hall
Disposition: Convicted
Defendants/Suspects:
» George W. McCollum
» Erin McCollum
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
A Hall County pet dealer could face charges of animal cruelty for the second time in five years. No counts were filed against George McCollum, said Rick Phillips, supervisor of Hall's animal control.
"There are different phases of cruelty to animals, all of which are gonna be Hall County ordinances," he said. "It is still an open case, and the investigation is ongoing."
Phillips said McCollum pleaded guilty to animal cruelty following a similar incident in 1998.
"From my understanding, he is a licensed breeder-dealer and sells them at local flea markets," Phillips said.
Tuesday, animal control officers and officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture returned to McCollum's home on Lotheridge Road, just off White Sulphur Road north of Gainesville Industrial Park North, after receiving odor and noise complaints.
Rick Aiken, director of the Hall County Humane Society, said the inventory included 40 rabbits, 31 exotic birds and about 80 cats and dogs. The additional guests strained the facility's services during its busy time of year.
"We're glad the animals were taken away, but it does cause a hardship," Aiken said.
Phillips said McCollum's property had been quarantined and that goats and various types of fowl were still on the site.
Aiken said extra staff was on duty and several area veterinarians had come to help care for the seized animals. A bird, a couple kittens and several other animals taken from the home have died.
"Overall, they have parasites, were filthy and are matted," Aiken said. "It appears none of the dogs and cats were hungry... We had 12 chickens that starved."
Aiken said many people called the society Wednesday to ask about the animals. He said they would be made available for adoption only if a court ordered them turned over or the owners released them to the society.
Case UpdatesGeorge McCollum of 3038 Lotheridge Road pleaded guilty to 61 counts of animal abuse in Hall County Magistrate Court. His daughter, Erin McCollum, pleaded guilty to 63 counts of animal abuse. After the hearing, George McCollum declined to comment.
The McCollums face another sentencing hearing in about two months, said Anne Bishop, assistant county attorney. That hearing will deal with five counts of property maintenance violations, including having junk cars on their property.
Bishop said the McCollums agreed to plead guilty to a reduction in counts and pay combined fines of $755. And they face restitution for board and veterinarian fees of more than $22,000 to the Hall County Humane Society, Bishop said.
Jail time and other fines were suspended as long as the two McCollums agree to comply with court conditions. The order includes having no animals, not living where there are any animals, not breeding animals and not selling animals.
Bishop said the fines, which could be paid over a 10-year period, began to accumulate on July 1 when officers with Hall County Animal Control removed more than 150 animals from the McCollums' property. About seven were sick and died.
In 1998, animal cruelty charges were also filed against the family but were dropped in 1999.
The McCollums' house was condemned by Hall County Fire Services. Many of their animals, including parakeets, dogs and cats, were adopted. The others have been turned over to the Hall County Humane Society. They are available for adoption.
The McCollums faced a maximum sentence of $1,000 and 60 days in jail for each violation, Bishop said.
Read more: Gainesville Times | | Update posted on Aug 24, 2003 - 6:06PM |
References« GA State Animal Cruelty Map
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