ELBERT COUNTY -- The Department of Agriculture asked dog lovers to come out to the Canine Angels property in Elbert County this weekend to adopt the animals for free, after deciding the operation needed to be shut down. The state also invited other rescue groups out to the property in hopes of getting the dogs off of the property.

Plans to shut down the Canine Angels came to a grinding halt early Friday, after the property owner wouldn't let the Department of Agriculture on the site.

"We never give away a free dog without screening a person to find out where it's going," says Sue Wells.

"Why do they need to be here? They've done nothing but harrass and bother me," Wells continued.

Wells says that she has transferred ownership of all the dogs to an animal sanctuary in North Carolina in an effort to stop the state from giving away the dogs free to anyone that was willing to take them.

Canine Angels are closing their doors because the Department of Agriculture investigators say that they have kept animals in deplorable conditions.

“As an investigator it is one of the worst facilities I have seen overall,” says Vanessa Sims-Green of the Agriculture Department.

The rescue group says that it is being unfairly targeted and many of its animals now face a very uncertain future.

Sue Wells of Canine Angels insists, “These dogs are dogs that all would have been dead if they weren't here.”

Over 150 dogs are caught in the middle.

“Every one of these is a throw away from somewhere,” says Wells.

But state agriculture investigators charge that though the intentions may have been good, Canine Angels is overrun with animals who at times are not properly cared for.

“We found trash on the property that needed to be disposed of,” says Sims-Green. "I found unsanitary conditions, inadequate food, and inadequate water. Animals that were injured; that needed veterinary care,” she continued.

Sims-Green says investigators found several dead animals.

"They are not going to have a license,” she said.

Wells explains that when investigators were at her property she was dealing with severe personal problems.

“I think I became overwhelmed with the death of my mother and my best friend,” she claims.

Conditions have improved considerably from when investigators were at the property, but state officials say the rescue operation is not viable and must be shutdown.

Wells reluctantly has signed a consent order agreeing to do just that.