Rescued animals from Toccoa residence could be going up for adoption

The animals that were recently confiscated from inhumane conditions could be going up for adoption.

That’s according to Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter Executive Director Jeff Roberts.

He says the animals that were rescued from a residence on Country Club Trail, in Toccoa, will be going up for adoption once they are healthy.

“There is hope,” he said. “A number of them have medical conditions that we’re still evaluating, so it’s going to be some time before the animals can be available for finding new homes. But we were able to get the ownership of the animals signed over to the shelter, so we don’t have to hold them for a court case. So, as soon as we can get them healthy and fully evaluated, then we will be working on placing these animals in home.”

According to Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley, on October 22, deputies with his office responded with Stephens County Animal Control to the Country Club Trail residence in Toccoa.

Animal control and law enforcement had received complaints that a large number of animals had been left inside the residence for weeks without food or water.

Shirley said that when his deputies arrived the smell inside the residence was staggering.

He said his deputies described the living conditions of the residence as being horrendous.

The floor was falling in and covered in feces and urine. Animal cages were stacked on top of each other and the animals had no food or water.

According to Roberts, only 16 of the 23 animals were rescued. The rest were found dead inside the residence.

71-year-old Anthony J Adamo and 52-year-old Crystal Turnbull, both of Toccoa have been charged with 23 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals.

Both Adamo and Turnbull were arrested in Athens Clarke County on a traffic stop and are currently incarcerated at Stephens County Jail under a $115,000 bond.

WNEG News will continue to follow this story and bring you additional details as they become available.