DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Animal welfare advocates are calling for changes in DeKalb County following reports that abused animals are being returned to their owners.
Channel 2’s Michael Doudna spoke with volunteers at the Lifeline Animal Shelter in DeKalb County and met Mahla, who has spent her life shuttled between shelters and an abusive home.
In 2024, Mahla and another dog were brought in after being found stuck in a crate left outside with a large mass on her chest. Authorities charged the owner with neglect, but the charge was dropped.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
By law, she was returned to the owner. In January, animal control found Mahla and her three new puppies living in deplorable conditions.
“She’s emaciated, her skin is in terrible shape, and her puppies also have these terrible skin conditions. Their eyes are swollen shut,” volunteer Carlos Diaz said. “She’s a very sweet dog, especially when you consider what she’s been through.”
Advocates say this could have been prevented if the system had worked the first time.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Lil Jon ‘heartbroken’ after body recovered from pond believed to be his son, DJ Young Slade
- Hundreds of thousands of Georgians could get a check from the state
- 3 students arrested after walkout at East Coweta High School
They want the county to do a better job of following through with charges to better protect animals that can’t protect themselves.
“It stops with them, the people who are overseeing this, and, you know, it comes down to them really just making a decision that they’re not going to look away,” Diaz said.
In trying to find out why the charges were dropped, Lifeline pointed Doudna to the District Attorney’s Office who pointed him to the Solicitor General’s Office.
The Solicitor General did not respond to requests for comment.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
©2026 Cox Media Group
