A tip about severely malnourished dogs led Whitfield County Animal Control deputies to a Georgia property where they found more than one dog already dead from starvation and several others clinging to life. Robert Walker and Brittany Walker now face aggravated cruelty to animals charges and are being held at the Whitfield County Jail as the investigation continues.
Whitfield County Animal Control began investigating last week after receiving a tip about the malnourished animals, according to wsbtv.com. When deputies arrived, they rescued numerous dogs described as emaciated and malnourished, and among the animals on the property, they discovered that more than one dog had already died due to starvation.
Warrants Lead to Two Arrests
The Whitfield County Sheriff's Office obtained arrest warrants for Robert Walker and Brittany Walker, according to FOX 5 Atlanta, which reported the couple was arrested in connection with the condition of the animals found on the property. Both were taken into custody and charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, per the same wsbtv.com account. FOX 5 Atlanta's report notes that authorities have not specified the exact number of dogs rescued or found dead on the property, and police have not disclosed the exact location or address where the animals were found.
Court records reviewed by wdef.com show both Robert Walker and Brittany Walker were each held on a charge of aggravated cruelty to animals under O.C.G.A. 16-12-4, the state statute covering the most serious animal cruelty offenses in Georgia. The two were booked into the Whitfield County Jail, where they remain, per the wsbtv.com report.
Investigation Still Active
The Whitfield County Sheriff's Office, which provided the information underlying the reporting, says the investigation remains ongoing. No further details about the condition of the surviving dogs, the total number of animals involved, or additional charges have been released as authorities continue piecing together what happened on the property.
