Two women in Gwinnett County are facing allegations of animal cruelty after local authorities found 25 living dogs reported to be mistreated and the remains of 13 others stored in home-owned refrigerators, according to the Gwinnett County Police Department.
The case came to light after Animal Control visited a residence on Britt Drive on September 17. Due to the severity of the situation, a search warrant was executed, and detectives intervened, resulting in the seizure of malnourished dogs and the discovery of canine remains in various stages of decomposition stored in freezers, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. Cpl. Angela Carter described the house as containing small cages with accumulated feces and urine, creating a scene detectives characterized as extremely disturbing. The motivations of the accused and the duration of the alleged abuse have not yet been released.
Christine Abbott, 67, and Donna Slavin, 65, were charged on December 8 with a total of 26 felony and misdemeanor animal cruelty counts. Residents of the neighborhood, including Ronnie Hall, told Atlanta News First that the persistent barking from the property had become a constant presence, prompting Hall to install triple-paned windows in an effort to reduce the noise.
The surviving dogs have been taken into the custody of the county shelter, where they are receiving care to recover from their condition. Neighbors, including Cheryl Huff, noted the situation, as reported in interviews by FOX 5 Atlanta.
