Dogs Seized At Cherokee Puppy Mill Ready For Adoption

The Cherokee County Animal Shelter is hoping some residents will open their homes to hundreds of dogs that were seized last month at a raid at an east Cherokee puppy mill.

The agency, which is located in Canton, on Saturday will hold an adoption event for the 359 dogs and other animals taken from property located on Cumming Highway near the Forsyth County border.

Registration for the event starts at 9 a.m. at the Cherokee County Senior Center, located at 1015 Univeter Road next to the animal shelter.

The adoption will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. More details about the event can be found on the agency’s Facebook page.

A pre-payment of a $100 adoption feel is required, and only one adoption per household will be allowed. Chaperones will usher roughly a dozen people through the kennel at a time to match each pet with the “family that will provide its home sweet home,” the agency said on its Facebook page.

The Cherokee County Commission on Tuesday approved a settlement agreement with Guerry and Joy Wise, the owners of the kennels where the dogs were found, in which the Wises would voluntarily and permanently surrender ownership of the animals, which included seven rabbits.

County Attorney Angela Davis said since the seizure, there were between 50 and 60 births of puppies at the animal shelter.

The agreement allowed the shelter to prepare for the adoption event, and offers a “relief of burden on shelter staff, which has been immense,” Davis stated.

She also said the agreement also allows the county to impose a lien in the amount of $50,000, which would pay for its cost of caring for the dogs and other animals. The lien would be placed upon the property where the kennel was located and would go into effect when the Wises attempt the sell the property, Davis stated.

The case, which is being investigated by the Cherokee County Marshal’s Office, was brought to light when an officer with the agency on July 15 went to perform a compliance check on property at 14045 Cumming Highway.

The agency discovered “dogs in deplorable conditions” and executed a search warrant.

Marshal’s office officials, Cherokee County Animal Shelter staff, veterinarian and animal activist Victoria Stilwell and Marietta veterinarian Dr. Michael Good all descended onto the scene to assess the situation.

Officers found the dogs were housed in cages and were being kept in unsanitary conditions. Underneath most cages were feces, urine and dog food that had fallen out through the grates, the marshal’s office said.

The Wises, who reside in Cumming, face 366 counts of animal cruelty in relation to the case.

(Photo credit: Shutterstock)