2 accused of animal cruelty after 17 animals found dead, 4 others malnourished

A pair of exes were both arrested and charged with cruelty to animals after officers found 17 dead animals and four more in dire straits on the property.

According to Hall County Animal Control, a welfare check at a home on Yellow Creek Road revealed more than a dozen dead chickens and other animals.

Officers went to the home and met with the woman who called for the welfare check, who was later identified as Montana Adkins.

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At the home, Adkins told police she’d gone to check on her animals and found many of them dead.

While investigating, officers found three dogs in the house, and two more in a kennel together. One of the dogs in the kennel was dead.

Officers also found 13 dead chickens and three dead ducks at the property.

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The surviving dogs were all described by officers as severely underweight.

According to the arrest report, the homeowner, KC Parker, said he could not afford to take care of the animals after he and Adkins broke up and she moved out.

Parker said he did not have a driver’s license and could not drive, though he told officers he had a phone when asked.

Adkins told officers she moved out a month ago and would come over to take care of the animals, but the gate would be locked, preventing her from doing so.

However, the arrest report says “on scene there was not a fence around the property, stopping anyone from entering the property.”

Further investigation had officers ask Adkins if anything was provided in writing to prevent her from coming to the property or even being around Parker.

She said there was not.

Determining that Adkins and Parker “both had failed to supply adequate food, water and sanitary conditions for the animals,” officers had Adkins bring three of the surviving dogs out, then both exes were taken into custody.

Each was charged with causing unjustifiable pain and suffering to an animal by willful neglect. The Hall County Sheriff’s Office said both Adkins and Parker were released on $50,400 bonds on Tuesday.

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