Dalton man arrested on aggravated cruelty to animal charges in Whitfield County

According to a Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office incident report, On August 14th, 2023, at 11:09 AM, Deputy James arrived on Tree Top Ln in reference to cruelty to animals call. Deputy James attempted to make contact with the residence by knocking on the front door, but no one came to the door. Deputy James was then informed by the caller that a male individual, later identified as Coby Alex Ryan Bryson, 29, of Dalton, had thrown several cats into the woods. Deputy Singleton arrived to assist Deputy James. Deputies walked down the wooded area where they discovered several cats. Two were deceased and a black in color cat that was still alive, but clinging to life. The cat did not appear to be able to walk and was breathing in short, shallow breaths suffering in extreme pain. Deputies eventually made contact with Bryson who stated, “On the bed in there. I was going to get her daughter up for school and all the other cats jumped up there with her. So I reached down there and one of the cats latched onto me and would not let go. I had to break her neck.” Bryson stated that law enforcement had probably been called because he had to catch the other cat and that it was a “huge pain in his ass.” Deputy James asked Mr Bryson to confirm that he put one cat down by breaking its neck and how he had put the other cats down. Bryson stated, “Pretty much the same thing I just… well you know choked really cause when I caught it I couldn’t let go of it.” Another witness advised they observed Bryson, hitting cats with kitchen tongs and violently throwing them in a box. The witness stated that they went inside then came back out and saw Bryson throwing two small helpless “kittens” in the driveway and was violently beating one with a “cable or something” then threw them into the woods by the tail. The witness also observed Bryson kicking cats. Bryson admitted to having the kitchen tongs, but refused to explain how they were used or anything else that happened. Bryson was arrested and transported to the Whitfield County Jail, charged with felony aggravated cruelty to animals and criminal attempt to commit aggravated cruelty to animals.