ATLANTA — Two sisters who investigators say portrayed themselves on social media as animal lovers are facing multiple animal cruelty charges after authorities discovered dozens of animals living in what they described as deplorable conditions inside an Atlanta home.
The discovery happened Oct. 1 when Atlanta police went to a home on Toll House Lane to execute a search warrant connected to an unrelated investigation.
The person officers were looking for was not there, but investigators said officers quickly discovered something they weren’t expecting — dozens of animals throughout the home.
Atlanta police contacted Fulton County animal services for assistance.
“When they did go into the house, they discovered there were a large amount of animals in deplorable conditions. So they called us,” Maj. Nikki Dwyer, commander of Fulton County Police Department’s Animal Services Division, told Channel 2 Action News.
Investigators said they ultimately removed 30 animals and 14 fish from the property. The animals included dogs, cats, rabbits, snakes, bearded dragons, geckos and a sugar glider.
Dwyer told Channel 2 that some of the most troubling conditions involved nine puppies found crammed inside a single kennel that had been placed in a bathtub.
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“There were nine puppies in one kennel inside of a bathtub covered in feces and urine,” Dwyer said.
Investigators said cats had been allowed to urinate and defecate inside the home and that litter boxes were overflowing with feces. Dwyer said the ammonia odor was so strong in one room that investigators’ eyes began to burn and tear up as they approached it.
Authorities also reported seeing roaches crawling on walls and floors. In the basement, investigators said they found a sugar glider inside a pop-up tent tethered to what appeared to be a Louis Vuitton purse. Dwyer said the tether was so tight around the animal’s neck that it could not move and had no access to food or water.
Investigators also provided Channel 2 Michael Seiden with a photograph of a dog they described as extremely emaciated.
“The mother dog was extremely emaciated. All bones,” Dwyer said.
Other dogs were found tethered outside without food, water or shelter, according to investigators.
Police identified the sisters as Synaia Carter and 22-year-old Janyla Carter. Synaia Carter is charged with five counts of animal cruelty.
Janyla Carter faces 14 counts of animal cruelty. Investigators told Channel 2 that the sisters described themselves as social media influencers.
During the investigation, authorities said they located videos posted to social media showing some of the same animals later removed from the home.
“Through our investigation, we were able to locate videos on their social media depicting a lot of the animals that we removed from the residence,” Dwyer said.
Dwyer also told Channel 2 Action News that one of the sisters works at Petco and that investigators believe she obtained a number of the animals through the store. Channel 2 Action News is working to independently confirm that information with Petco and has reached out to the company for comment.
While Channel 2 Action News was at the home Tuesday, a family member of the sisters arrived at the property.
She spoke with Seiden off camera and said the family wants to share its side of the story. She said she first needed to speak with the sisters’ father and would contact Seiden when the family was ready to talk.
Channel 2 Action News also spoke with neighbors who described waking up to a SWAT team surrounding the home and what they initially thought was happening.
The rescued animals were taken to Fulton County Animal Services.
Channel 2 Action News is working to learn more about their conditions and whether any could eventually become available for adoption.