#AnimalWelfare | AM 1180 Radio

July 13, 2026

Summerville Man Facing Animal Cruelty Charge Following Police Investigation

Local News, Local News Items #AnimalControl, #AnimalCruelty, #AnimalNeglect, #AnimalWelfare, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #CommunitySafety, #crimereport, #CriminalInvestigation, #CrueltyToAnimals, #IncidentReport, #LawEnforcement, #LocalNews, #northwestgeorgia, #northwestgeorgianews, #policereport, #PublicSafety, #SPD, #summervillega, #SummervillePoliceDepartment, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

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.

July 7, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Chattooga County Animal Shelter Seeking Donations of Cat Litter and Dawn Dish Soap

Local News, Local News Items #AnimalShelter, #AnimalWelfare, #CatLitter, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyAnimalShelter, #ChattoogaInfo, #CommunitySupport, #DawnDishSoap, #Donate, #northwestgeorgia, #PetAdoption, #summervillega, #SupportLocal, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

The Chattooga County Animal Shelter is asking for the community’s help by donating two items that are always in high demand: cat litter and Dawn dish soap. Shelter officials say even small donations can make a big difference in caring for the dogs and cats housed at the facility.

Cat litter is used daily for the shelter’s feline residents, while Dawn dish soap is an important cleaning supply used to bathe animals and clean food and water bowls, kennels, and other equipment. The shelter says these items are used quickly as staff care for stray, abandoned, and surrendered animals from across Chattooga County. The shelter has made similar appeals in the past during periods of increased intake and kitten season.

Donations may be dropped off at the Chattooga County Animal Shelter, located at 464 Red Oak Road in Summerville, during public hours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The shelter is open by appointment on Wednesdays. For more information, call 706-857-0679.

July 5, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Walker County Animal Shelter Reopens After Month-Long Quarantine Following Canine Distemper Case

Local News, Local News Items #AdoptDontShop, #AnimalShelter, #AnimalWelfare, #CanineDistemper, #ChattoogaInfo, #ChickamaugaGA, #CommunityNews, #DogHealth, #LocalNews, #northwestgeorgia, #PetAdoption, #PetSafety, #WalkerCountyAnimalShelter, #WalkerCountyGA, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

The Walker County Animal Shelter has reopened after completing a 30-day quarantine that began when a litter of surrendered puppies tested positive for canine distemper virus, or CDV.

Shelter officials announced that the facility resumed normal operations on June 24 after all cleaning and quarantine protocols were completed. Sadly, all eight puppies in the affected litter died from the highly contagious virus. Officials said no other animals at the shelter became ill during the quarantine period.

Canine distemper is an airborne virus that spreads easily among dogs. Because the Walker County Animal Shelter has an open-concept design and does not have adequate facilities to fully isolate exposed animals, officials determined that a complete shutdown of the shelter was necessary to prevent the virus from spreading.

During the month-long closure, shelter staff conducted an extensive deep cleaning of the facility, disinfecting equipment as well as all entry and exit points.

The shelter currently has more than 60 dogs and cats available for adoption. Staff members have also been working through a backlog of stray animals and owner surrenders that accumulated during the quarantine.

The Walker County Animal Shelter is located at 5488 North Marble Top Road near Chickamauga and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

July 3, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Walker County Explains New Spay And Neuter Law And Exemptions

Local News, Local News Items #AnimalServices, #AnimalWelfare, #Cats, #ChattoogaInfo, #Dogs, #LocalNews, #northwestgeorgia, #PetOverpopulation, #PetOwners, #SpayAndNeuter, #WalkerCountyAnimalShelter, #WalkerCountyGA, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Walker County officials are clarifying the county’s new spay and neuter ordinance and explaining which pet owners may qualify for exemptions.

The ordinance requires most dogs and cats six months of age or older to be spayed or neutered unless the animal qualifies for an exemption or the owner purchases an annual unaltered animal license. County leaders say the goal is to reduce pet overpopulation and ease pressure on the Walker County Animal Shelter.

Exemptions include animals owned by licensed commercial breeders or pet dealers, animals with a veterinarian-certified medical exemption, and working animals used for farming, herding, hunting, service work, law enforcement, or show purposes. Owners must have proper documentation.

Pet owners who do not qualify for an exemption may purchase an annual license through the Walker County Animal Shelter. The fee is $100 per year for dogs and $50 per year for cats, with proceeds going toward the county’s spay and neuter voucher program.

County officials say the ordinance will be reviewed later this year to evaluate how well it is working.

June 27, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Floyd County Man Charged With Aggravated Animal Cruelty

Local News, Local News Items #AggravatedCrueltyToAnimals, #AnimalAbuse, #AnimalCruelty, #AnimalWelfare, #arrestreport, #BreakingNews, #ChattoogaInfo, #CrimeNews, #DogAbuse, #FloydCounty, #FloydCountySheriffsOffice, #GeorgiaCrime, #georgianews, #LawEnforcement, #LocalNews, #MarthaBerryBoulevard, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #RomeGA, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, #YourHometownRadioStation 0

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.

June 23, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Friends Of Chattooga County Animal Shelter Urges Pet Owners To Spay And Neuter After More Than 100 Puppies Born From Two Dogs

Local News, Local News Items #AnimalRescue, #AnimalWelfare, #BestFriends, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyAnimalShelter, #CommunityNews, #FriendsOfChattoogaCountyAnimalShelter, #northwestgeorgia, #PetAdoption, #PetOverpopulation, #RescueDogs, #ShelterDogs, #SpayAndNeuter, #summervillega, #SunKissedAcres, #wzqznews 0

Friends of Chattooga County Animal Shelter is using the story of two mama dogs to remind pet owners about the importance of spaying and neutering.

June 21, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Low-Cost Spay And Neuter Assistance Available For Chattooga County Pet Owners

Local News, Local News Items #AnimalAdvocatesOfChattoogaCounty, #AnimalWelfare, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #CommunityNews, #CommunitySupport, #DaltonGA, #DogsAndCats, #LocalProgram, #LowCostSpayNeuter, #MyKidsHavePaws, #northwestgeorgia, #PetCare, #PetHealth, #PetOwners, #RabiesVaccination, #ResponsiblePetOwnership, #SpayAndNeuter, #summervillega, #wzqznews 0

Animal Advocates of Chattooga County has announced a new partnership with My Kids Have Paws Veterinary Clinic to help local pet owners offset the cost of spay and neuter procedures for their dogs and cats.

June 6, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Trion Wins ‘Battle Of The Beds’ Fundraiser Benefiting Shelter Dogs

Local News, Local News Items #AnimalWelfare, #BattleOfTheBeds, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyAnimalShelter, #ChattoogaCountySchools, #ChattoogaIndians, #CommunitySupport, #FriendsOfTheChattoogaCountyAnimalShelter, #Fundraiser, #ShelterDogs, #summervillega, #trionbulldogs, #TrionCitySchools, #trionga, #wzqznews 0

A friendly competition between Trion City Schools and Chattooga County Schools has resulted in thousands of dollars being raised to help dogs at the Chattooga County Animal Shelter.

June 4, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Chattooga County Animal Control Seeking Donations Of Kitten Food

Local News, Local News Items #AnimalShelter, #AnimalWelfare, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyAnimalControl, #CommunitySupport, #DonatePetFood, #KittenFoodNeeded, #KittenSeason, #LocalAnimals, #northwestgeorgia, #PetAdoption, #PetRescue, #RescueKittens, #summervillega, #wzqznews 0

Chattooga County Animal Control is asking for the community’s help as the shelter experiences an influx of young kittens.

According to shelter officials, 14 kittens have been taken in during the past week alone, including nine that arrived without their mother and require additional care and feeding.

The shelter is currently in urgent need of wet kitten food donations, and officials say any brand will help. Donations can be dropped off during shelter operating hours or mailed directly to the facility.

Chattooga County Animal Control is located at 464 Red Oak Drive in Summerville.

Regular shelter hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Wednesday visits are available by appointment.

Officials say community support is critical in helping provide proper nutrition and care for the young animals until they are ready for adoption.

Anyone wishing to help can donate wet kitten food directly to the shelter.

May 10, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Walker County Commissioners Approve Spay And Neuter Ordinance

Local News, Local News Items #AnimalControl, #AnimalWelfare, #CommunityNews, #LocalGovernment, #northwestgeorgia, #PetCare, #PetOverpopulation, #ResponsiblePetOwnership, #SpayAndNeuter, #WalkerCounty, #WalkerCountyAnimalShelter, #WalkerCountyGA, #wzqznews 0

Walker County animal welfare leaders are celebrating what they describe as a major step forward for animals in the community.

The Walker County Board of Commissioners has approved a new spay and neuter ordinance following nearly two years of meetings, revisions, and ongoing discussion.

According to the Walker County Animal Shelter, the ordinance is designed to help address pet overpopulation and encourage responsible pet ownership. The measure applies to pet owners who are found in violation of animal-related offenses, requiring them to have their pet spayed or neutered or pay a fee. That fee is expected to be finalized at an upcoming commissioners meeting.

The ordinance includes exemptions for hunting dogs, working dogs, livestock guardian animals, licensed breeders, and pets with medical exemptions certified by a licensed veterinarian.

Shelter officials say animal welfare efforts often face significant challenges, including overpopulation, hoarding cases, cruelty investigations, and limited resources. Despite those challenges, they say the new ordinance represents meaningful progress for the county.

The Walker County Animal Shelter will continue offering its spay and neuter voucher program and hopes to expand resources available to pet owners in the future.