JEFFERSON, Ga. -- Two of the owners of a Nicholson dog breeding kennel were arrested Tuesday afternoon on felony and misdemeanor charges as Jackson County officials continue to investigate reports of animal cruelty and neglect.
Jackson County sheriff's deputies arrested Jennifer Marie Hughes, 34, of Nicholson on Tuesday afternoon at L&D Farm and Kennel. Brandy Shree Stone, 25, of Nicholson turned herself in to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office later in the day.
Each faces five felony and 55 misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals.
Hughes' mother, Marie Hughes, and her father, Ronnie Hughes, also face animal cruelty charges and were expected to surrender to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office later this week.
About 300 dogs still live on the 23-acre farm on Georgia Highway 334, where Jackson County Animal Control and the state Department of Agriculture launched an investigation last week into allegations the family was neglecting the dogs.
Once on the farm, officials found a dead dog lying in a cage, a collection of dog bones, malnourished dogs and several dogs in need of veterinary care, according to a report County Manager Darrell Hampton sent to Jackson County commissioners.
Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to pursue criminal charges against the family after viewing photos taken by agriculture department investigator Laura Blanton.
"We have very strong charges here," said Commissioner Jody Thompson. "I know we will have responsibility for the dogs, but if we were to walk in there and saw 300 prisoners, we wouldn't wait to negotiate with (the owners). That decision would only send a message that we don't care about animal abuse in Jackson County."
Blanton said the photos, which are part of the agriculture department's investigation, are not available to the public, but she shared them with commissioners to help them make a more informed decision.
"We are extremely pleased that the Jackson County Commission is going to bring criminal charges against the owners of this farm," said state Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin, whose department is responsible for regulating dog breeding in Georgia. "We have issued several citations against these operators; my staff is right on top of it."
The agriculture department cited the Hughes family's kennels over the years but never had enough evidence to revoke their kennel license. Agriculture officials have inspected buildings at the front of the property, Irvin said, but never visited several buildings on the back of the family's land.
Jackson County commissioners considered negotiating a settlement with the kennel's owners to force them to give up the dogs and kennel license, in order to avoid criminal charges.
While county commissioners oversee the animal control department, prosecutors might have pressed charges anyway, according to Piedmont Circuit District Attorney Richard Bridgeman.
"I've never heard of anything like (this vote) before," Bridgeman said Tuesday.
Commissioners were worried about who would care for the dogs if they charged the owners. The Jackson County government does not operate an animal shelter, and the number of puppies and pregnant dogs at the kennel would overwhelm shelters run by private organizations and neighboring counties.
The Jackson County Humane Society agreed to organize private rescue groups to care for the dogs if the owners surrender them to the county or a judge seizes them, society President Angela Gosnell told commissioners.
