ATHENS, Tenn. (WDEF) – More than 40 dogs are now safe after a major animal rescue effort in Athens, Tennessee.
Officers say the dogs were found living in deplorable conditions, inside and outside of a home on Halley Street.
On Friday, police responded to the residence for an animal welfare check.
What they discovered turned out to be a serious case of animal hoarding.
The dogs, mostly small breeds such as Yorkies, were found in filthy, overcrowded conditions.
Police say the owner has been charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty.
Six of the rescued dogs are still looking for their forever homes.
News 12 visited the shelter where the dogs are currently being cared for.
The staff at the Larry Dean Wallace, Sr. Animal Shelter and Adoption Center say they are doing everything they can to nurse the animals back to health, but they hope the shelter is only a temporary stop on the dogs’ journey.
Sheila Chesanow, the clinic coordinator, said, “We got a notice from the police department that there were multiple small dogs, Yorkie-size, being confiscated in a hoarding situation. So, we set up to receive them.”
The Mayor of Athens, Larry Eaton, has a personal connection to situations like these.
“Animals have always been there for us through thick and thin,” he said. “I’ve even picked up buckets of puppies left on the side of the road. People aren’t spaying or neutering their animals, and when they can’t care for them, they just discard them.”
The owner of the animals was found inside the home and has since been charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty. As of Sunday, six of the rescued dogs are still looking for their forever homes.
Victoria Owen, President of the McMinn Regional Humane Society, urges the community to stay alert.
“If you see something, say something. If you see a neighbor with 20 dogs in their backyard, reach out. Sometimes it’s a matter of lacking resources, and we can help. But if no one speaks up, that number can grow from 10 to 45 or 50 before anyone intervenes.”
Mayor Eaton says he hopes this incident pushes the community to take stronger action toward animal welfare.
“This story resonates deeply for me,” he said. “We need to explore better spay and neuter programs in the city of Athens and across our region. That’s one of the biggest issues we’re facing right now.”
Animal advocates and city leaders are now asking the public for help, not just in finding homes for these rescued dogs, but in preventing cases like this from happening again.
If you’re interested in supporting the care of these rescued dogs—including spaying, neutering, medical expenses, fostering, or adoption, click here to donate or get involved.
