22 Rescued Forsyth Dogs Have Been Adopted

CUMMING, GA -- Twenty-two out of a possible 26 dogs rescued from squalid conditions in north Forsyth County have now been adopted.

The Forsyth County Animal Shelter announced in a Facebook post that all 12 of the available puppies and 10 of the 14 available adult dogs in the case have found forever homes since they became eligible for adoption on Saturday.

In February, Billy Ray Shirley, 59, of Cumming, was charged with 30 counts of animal cruelty for keeping dogs in a trailer in what authorities described as deplorable conditions.

One dog was found dead and the others in the trailer on Franklin Goldmine Road off of Canton Highway were clearly in poor condition, the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office said at the time.

Only four more of the dogs, believed to be Chihuahua-Jack Russell terrier mixes, remain currently available for adoption. One of the adult dogs recently had puppies, and two more continue to behave too timidly to offer for adoption, shelter officials told the Forsyth County News.

“We just want to thank everyone who helped get the word out to help these dogs find their forever homes,” Forsyth County spokeswoman Jodi Gardner told the paper.

The remaining dogs from the case -- and lots of other pets -- are available for adoption at the Forsyth County Animal Shelter, at 4065 County Way.