Kennel Operators Charged With Animal Cruelty

The owners of an east Cherokee County kennel have been charged with over 300 counts of animal cruelty.

Geurry and Joy Wise, both of Cumming, face 366 counts of animal cruelty in relation to the case in which hundreds of dogs were found living in deplorable conditions at 14045 Cumming Highway.

The Wises, whose business Heavenly Kennel was operating at that location, will be arraigned on Sept. 24 in front of Cherokee County State Court Judge Alan Jordan. They were booked into the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center on July 29.

Joy Wise, 63, posted a $107,000 bond on July 31, but her 79-year-old husband remains behind bars with $118,100 bond.

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 the property.

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.

(Photo: Guerry Wise, left, and wife Joy Wise both face 366 counts of animal cruelty. Guerry Wise remains behind bars while his wife has bonded out of the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center. Credit: Cherokee Sheriff’s Office)