When Hall County Animal Control officers responded to an animal hoarding case at an apartment on Whitmire Drive Dec. 23, they say they found several cats, animal feces, overflowing litter boxes, old food, “and other.”
It was the second such investigation in less than a week in the county. The first one, on Honeysuckle Road, resulted in 88 animal cruelty against each of two people. UPDATE: County official confirms arrests in animal rescue & a separate case
In the latest incident, Teresa Marie Welch, 48, was charged with a dozen counts of animal cruelty and one county child cruelty because, investigators say, a minor was among the residents of the apartment. Welch was jailed at the time, but a spokeswoman for the Hall County Sheriff’s Office says she was released Sunday on bonds totaling $7,800.
HERE IS THE REPORT WHICH WAS PROVIDED MONDAY MORNING BY THE COUNTY PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE. IT HAS BEEN EDITED FOR CLARITY AND BREVITY:
“Once the apartment was where we could enter without air packs…We went back in and cleared the second bedroom; we closed the door and moved into the kitchen/dining area where we were able to secure more cats in carriers.
We located more cats inside the washer/dryer area, once we cleared that area we closed the door, and focused on the kitchen and living area.
We secured a total of 14 cats out of the apartment; we had at least 3 cats run out of the front door while trying to vent the apartment. Inside the apartment there was trash piled up all over the place with animal feces, old food, other unknown.
There were multiple litter boxes that were overflowing with urine and feces, during the time we were attempting to catch the cats we had to walk over and through trash and feces.
(We) also notified DFCS (Department of Family & Children’s Services) and the (county) marshals…notified the fire marshal due to the apartment being unlivable.
When (we) spoke with the marshal’s office they stated that they will not respond until Friday, DFCS stated that they will file a report and pass it on to their supervisor.
There were 3 people living in the apartment, Ms., Welsh and her 2 kids, (1) 22-year-old female, and (1) minor under the age of 18. The grandmother came and picked up the children for them to stay with her for the night, the 22-year-old was told that once we completed the warrant, they could enter the apartment to retrieve personal items.
It was recommended that they do not stay in the apartment due to health risk…
…We made entry into the second bedroom where we were able to secure another cat in a carrier, we moved trash from the bed and surrounding area and located a couple more cats. The cats ran out into the living room, behind a mattress that was standing up in the living room against the wall. We exited the building and spoke with fire, and they were able to provide a fan to blow air in the structure, we took the AC unit out of the window in the second bedroom to get air flow.
Upon the arrival of fire side 1890/1885 put on air packs and made entry to the apartment and took photos and attempted to get a count on the cats inside the house.
We asked the older daughter how many cats were inside, she stated 17 cats were inside, she set down and made a list and gave it to (us).
(We) made entry into the apartment and made entry into the first bedroom off the living room area.
(We) were able to secure 1 cat in a carrier and brought it out, we picked up the bed, and several cats ran out into another room. Once we cleared that room, we secured it by closing the door, we went into the bathroom and cleared it.
(We) contacted Ms. Welch and explained to her we had a warrant to search for and do a welfare check on the animals.
(We) had all parties inside the house step out, once all parties were outside, 1885/1898 made entry into the house and discovered unsanitary conditions.
At that time, they came back out and read Ms. Welch, her Mirande rights, and asked her how long this had been going on. She stated it has been going on for a few months we asked her how many cats were inside the apartment, she stated 14.
She also stated that it is the reason she would not let (us) in the apartment back in August…at that time (we) put Ms. Welch under arrest for animal cruelty and child cruelty HCSO transported. We requested (the fire department) to respond to bring air packs for us to safely enter the apartment due to the ammonia smell inside the apartment.”
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The above narrative is as provided by the county and is not necessarily in chronological order.)
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