News Near Canton: Man Charged with Animal Cruelty

A Ball Ground man has been charged with animal cruelty after 20 animals were confiscated from his property.

Rud Tietjen, 55, was arrested on Wednesday by officers with the Cherokee County Marshal's Office and charged with 20 counts of animal cruelty after nearly two dozen animals were found in various states of neglect. 

Tietjen was booked into the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center with $1,000 bond and Lt. Jay Baker with the Cherokee Sheriff's Office said the man bonded out of jail on the same day.  

Pickens Progress reports the agency received complaints from neighbors about barking and odor emitting from the property, located at 585 Creighton Road. 

The newspaper reported the agency executed a search warrant of the property and were accompanied by officials with the Cherokee County Animal Shelter, Cherokee Office of Solicitor General and an inspector from the Georgia Department of Agriculture. 

Pickens Progress reports 19 dogs — five Great Pyrenees and 14 Shelties — and one cat were all taken from the property. The dogs were emaciated and showed signs of neglect. 

Investigators also found bones, carcasses and rancid meat and fecal matter on the property, according to the newspaper.

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