Gwinnett Daily Post

SUGAR HILL - A Sugar Hill man has been cited with 30 counts of animal neglect after authorities located more than 20 animals living in unsanitary conditions on his property, police said.

George Ellis Pugh, 59, was taken into custody by Gwinnett County Police on Monday morning, cited with neglecting the 17 horses, nine cows, three pigs and one goat discovered at his 5893 Suwanee Dam Road home in Sugar Hill.

Gwinnett County Police Department spokeswoman Cpl. Illana Spellman said the animals were found in "unsanitary conditions" and were "not properly fed."

Animal Control officers and members of the Georgia Department of Agriculture obtained search warrants for the property after numerous complaints from neighbors concerning the animals.

An equine veterinarian on scene at the time of the search discovered the animals were severely underweight and infected with worms and lice, authorities said.

The majority of the animals were taken to the Gwinnett Animal Welfare Center in Lawrenceville for care.

Police said nine of the horses were taken in by a horse handler who is a major with the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Department. Seven more, those in the most severe conditions, were seized by the Department of Agriculture and the remaining horse was taken to the county's Animal Welfare Center.

At this point it is unknown if the animals will be eligible for adoption.

"When livestock is involved it's a different issue," Spellman said. It will be up to a judge to decide where the animals will make their permanent home, she added.

At this time, Spellman said, it is uncertain why Pugh had so many animals.

According to jail records, the 59-year-old was released from the Gwinnett County Detention Center on Monday on a $8,100 bond.