Owners of an Alleged Commercial Dog Breeding Business in Athens have been Arrested

Following a call regarding an odor coming from a property, Athens Police Department officers executed a search warrant on Monday, March 31st to investigate an alleged commercial dog breeding business on Lindsay Lane. When Officer Paul Tucker arrived on the scene of the initial report, he discovered that many dogs were living in filthy conditions without access to proper veterinary treatment. The dogs were successfully removed from the house by law enforcement with the help of Dr. Jorge Acosta and Elisabeth O’Connor of the Limestone Veterinary Clinic. Following an extensive investigation, a 75-year-old man and a 73-year-old woman were charged with 38 counts of animal abuse and neglect each. Animal cruelty is a misdemeanor crime. After investigating, the pair had allegedly been running the extensive dog breeding business for a long time. The bond for the couple, who turned themselves in to the Athens Police Department is $38,000. This investigation is on going and all animals are now at the Limestone County Veterinary Clinic with hopes to set up adoptions beginning next week.