Expensive dog breed seized in abuse case has long line of people waiting to adopt it

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Fulton County District Attorney’s Office and LifeLine Animal Project confirms most of the animals seized in a cruelty case were adopted Wednesday.

The speed in which rescuers were able to treat the animals and put them into new homes is what made this case so unusual, according to the Fulton County prosecutors at the shelter.

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Fulton County confiscated 57 dogs, two cats, two horses and five chickens from a home in Milton on Feb. 7.

Wednesday was the first day many of the poodle mixes were eligible for adoption. Lifeline Animal Project’s shelter had a line out the door, full of people interested in taking the desirable, usually expensive, breed home.

“To see a poodle, I was like oh my gosh I have to come see them. I wanted to come early this morning, and I kind of just took a chance because I was like I know that they’re going to be gone by the time I get there, but I got lucky,” said Christian Holmes.

Another family didn’t get there soon enough to adopt.

“We’re sad. We were looking for a hypoallergenic dog because we have a child who is allergic,” said Gauri Misra-Deshpand.

Lifeline Animal Project spokesperson Tiki Artist described the conditions the animals were living in to Channel 2′s Courtney Francisco on WSB Tonight at 11 p.m.

“Deplorable conditions, and they have been in these conditions for quite some time without proper medical care,” said Artist. “We had senior dogs that had issues with their eye, their ears, their coats. Poodle mixes require a lot of grooming, and a lot of animals were mangled and had hair missing.”

Investigators arrested Deborah Blatchley. Prosecutors said she claims to be an honor of a poodle rescue group.

“You have folks who are in and out in the community who hold themselves out to be animal shelters or rescues, that sort of thing. Ultimately, there’s a certain standard, there’s a certain care that’s required of folks that do that,” said Senior Assistant District Attorney Matthew Holmes.

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Holmes took note of the dogs’ conditions at the shelter Wednesday. One had to have part of its tail amputated.

Holmes said it’s the length of neglect and type of injuries that help prosecutors decide what punishment to seek in court.

Blatchley has bonded out of jail. She faces more than 56 counts of felony animal cruelty.

Police also have warrants for fleeing and eluding officers.

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