A pair of animal cruelty cases currently are making its way through the legal system.
Gregory James Howell and Allison Sherrill Howell were arrested outside of their home on Southern Walk Drive earlier this month and charged with one count of animal cruelty. Southern Walk is a newer subdivision off of Log Cabin Road, closer to Kroger.
A deputy responded to the home after receiving a tip from an Animal Control officer. Wrote the deputy in his incident report narrative: “I observed a bedroom covered in dog feces and urine, as well as clothes, and trash. I noted an extreme and overwhelming odor of feces and urine in the room along with the filth. I observed one white dog on the bed that seemed in good health and a black cat that ran away as we opened the door. Upon entering a walk in closet and bathroom in the room, I observed a mound of used puppy pads, feces and urine stacked inches on the ground and smeared on the walls and doors, no food or water, and a dog crate filled to the top with trash and bodily waste. The dog in the bathroom was covered in its own feces matted down in its fur and appeared to be extremely malnourished. Animal control officers gathered pictures of the room and bathroom and took all three animals.”
Added the incident report: “While in the room, I observed a baby crib next to a dog kennel also covered in filth. Gregory was outside holding a baby when I entered the residence.
(The Animal Control officer) advised me the baby sleeps in the room with the parents and the animals.”
A third adult also lives at the home.
However, she was not arrested.
“(The Animal Control officer) advised me the other resident...was not involved with the living conditions and has her own room and dog that was well cared for,” according to the incident report.
Meanwhile, a total of 29 dogs were confiscated from the property at 185 Moore St. following a dog attack. Moore Street is located off of Irwinton Road in Hardwick.
Eventually arrested and charged with 20 counts of animal cruelty were Taten Sharif Whitlock and Alisha Latrice Whitlock.
A Milledgeville Police Department officer initially responded after a woman called 911 and said that her dog was attacked by another dog, a pitbull mix named Buddy.
Jenee Whiddon, an Animal Control officer, also responded to the scene.
The MPD officer then interviewed Alisha Whitlock. In the process, the officer noticed that Buddy was “malnourished,” according to the incident report which raised his suspicions. The officer then turned his attention to the Whitlock’s residence at 185 Moore Street. Wrote the officer in his incident report narrative: “Once Officer Whiddon completed her home inspection, she described to (another MPD officer) and I that there’s holes in the floor, furniture damaged, dried animal feces on the floor and a strong smell of urine.”
Ultimately discovered were 29 dogs, and “the majority of the dogs were malnourished. Taten and Alisha Whitlock were arrested without incident.