CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. — There were so many small dogs at the Cherokee County Animal Shelter that the facility had to close while officials check the dogs.
According to sheriff’s officials, agents with the county’s marshal’s office went to the location at 14045 Cumming Highway in Cumming on a compliance check Tuesday.
The dogs were being kept in filthy, unsanitary conditions and housed in cages, according to sheriff's officials. Officers said there was feces, urine, and old food beneath the cages.
There, they found an abundance of dogs in deplorable conditions, and took action, returning hours later with a search warrant.
Officers, shelter employees and a veterinarian went back Tuesday afternoon and seized 357 dogs from the location.
A woman was arrested and charged with operating a kennel without a license, along with 250 other violations.
Authorities said the misdemeanor charges she faces could be upgraded to felony charges.
The dogs will likely be available for adoption at the Cherokee County Animal Shelter after being evaluated.