An Armuchee woman has been arrested on a felony warrant charging her with aggravated cruelty to animals after authorities say she admitted beating her small dog to death with a sledgehammer.
A Summerville man is expected to face an animal cruelty charge following an investigation into reports that a dog was being kept without adequate food, water or shelter during hot weather, according to the Summerville Police Department.
Police were dispatched at approximately 7:54 p.m. on July 1 after receiving a complaint about a dog allegedly being neglected. According to the incident report, the complainant identified the dog’s owner as Dakota Marks and reported seeing the dog tied to a tree with a ratchet strap.
When officers arrived, they found a large dog secured by a ratchet strap with one end attached to the animal and the other fastened to a tree. The report states the immediate area contained no shelter from the heat, no accessible food, and the only water container had a crack in the bottom, preventing it from serving as a reliable water source. Officers also noted the area was heavily littered with trash and that the restraint was not long enough for the dog to reach a nearby camper.
The responding officer photographed the scene and requested assistance from Animal Control. Attempts to locate Marks at the location were unsuccessful.
According to the report, a warrant was issued for Dakota Marks on a charge of Cruelty to Animals.
A Crawford County man is facing state and federal charges after a multi-agency investigation into alleged illegal dog fighting led to the rescue of 23 dogs and the seizure of firearms and suspected illegal drugs.
A Floyd County man is facing a felony charge after authorities say he seriously injured a dog with a machete at a Rome hotel.
According to Floyd County Jail records, 25-year-old Joseph Robert Bisher was arrested Wednesday and charged with aggravated cruelty to animals following an incident at a hotel on Martha Berry Boulevard.
Investigators allege Bisher struck a dog named “Oreo” with a machete, causing a deep laceration.
According to the arrest report, when questioned about the incident, Bisher allegedly told authorities he did not want to strike his girlfriend, so he struck the dog instead.
The case remains under investigation.
A Walker County investigation has led to the arrest of a Rossville couple on multiple animal-related charges after authorities say a dog suffered a prolonged and preventable death.
Georgia lawmakers have approved legislation that would create a statewide animal cruelty database aimed at protecting pets and preventing repeat abuse.
The bill, known as Senate Bill 587, requires the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia to build and maintain a publicly searchable registry of individuals convicted of certain animal cruelty offenses.
Under the proposal, courts would be required to submit conviction and sentencing information, and the database would be updated regularly and available to the public at no cost.
Supporters say the registry will help animal shelters, rescue groups, and even private citizens screen potential pet adopters and avoid placing animals in dangerous situations.
The measure passed both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly and now heads to the governor’s desk, where it could soon become law if signed.
A Summerville woman has been cited following an investigation into animal cruelty after multiple dogs were found in poor condition at a residence on Northwest Congress Street.
Authorities responded to a disturbing animal cruelty situation after neighbors reported excessive barking at a home located at 245 West Spring Creek Road. When Animal Control and police arrived at the property, they discovered what officials described as an abandoned residence with multiple dogs left without food or water for an extended period of time.
A couple in Armuchee is facing felony child cruelty charges after authorities say two children—both minors—were sent to school with animal feces on their clothing and bookbags, and were living in what investigators described as deplorable conditions inside the home.
A Summerville man was arrested this week after police say he shot his neighbor’s dog after blaming it for killing his chickens. Summerville Police say 34-year-old Cody Allen Lane allegedly went onto the victim’s property on Roosevelt Street on New Year’s Day, told the dog’s owner he intended to kill the dog, then took the animal by the collar, dragged it into a wooded area, and shot it. Lane was charged this week by Summerville Police, and the case is scheduled to be heard in Summerville Municipal Court with a court date set for April 7, 2026.