Georgia Department of Agriculture Law Enforcement officers, along with Catoosa County officials, have seized 32 dogs from a property in Tunnel Hill, Georgia, as part of an animal abuse investigation. The action follows allegations of animal cruelty at the location.
According to the department, this marks the second large-scale rescue operation by Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) Law Enforcement in Northwest Georgia within the past month.
“Georgia Department of Agriculture Law Enforcement is cracking down hard on animal abuse in the state of Georgia,” said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper. “I’m proud of the great work our officers did to remove these dogs from a dangerous situation, and we’re grateful for the assistance of Catoosa County Animal Control, Atlanta Humane Society, and our other partners, whose support was essential to the success of this operation.”
On August 1, 2025, GDA investigators arrived at a Tunnel Hill address after receiving reports about possible animal cruelty. They found around 20 dogs outside living in unsanitary conditions and several others inside an abandoned structure on the property. Investigators noted that the animals were not being humanely cared for and were living in unhealthy environments.
A search warrant was executed on August 5 with help from local animal control agencies and the Atlanta Humane Society. In total, 32 dogs were removed from the site and taken to another location for veterinary assessment.
The investigation is ongoing. Authorities say that once veterinary medical reports are complete for each animal, charges will be filed against those responsible.
