According to a Walker County press release and a Walker County Sheriff’s Office incident report, On Wednesday, August 9th, a call came into the Walker County Animal Shelter requesting a welfare check on animals which resulted in the recovery of more than 100 cats and dogs from a property on South Dick Creek Road. According to the press release, Walker County Animal Control Officers attempted to inspect the property for malnourished animals, but the owner Kathryn Marie Decker, 70, of 3787 South Dick Creek Road, LaFayette, GA, refused to allow officers on her property. According to the incident report, At 5:54 PM, Walker County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Heaven assisted Animal Control Officers Mitchell, Clements, and Bishop, with serving an inspection warrant to access the property. Once on the property, they found “very malnourished and starving” dogs chained to trees. The deputy reported the entire inside of the primary residence was covered in animal urine and feces animal feces. They immediately located dozens of cats stacked and crammed into small crates. Animal Control officers and the deputy also located some deceased animals during the initial search. Deputy Haven Reported, “The residence was covered in trash and clutter to the point that [I] had to walk sideways to enter. The front porch was caving in and was full of trash. The residence also had a very horrible stench that could be smelled as soon as you approached the house. After locating the first deceased cat, Animal Control Director Jeff Mitchell began to call for assistance from other officers and shelter staff.”
While they were heading back to their patrol vehicles, they were met by an irate Kathryn. She became extremely irate and defensive when advised that they had a warrant to check on the welfare of the animals on the property. According to the incident report, Kathryn refused to corporate with officers. When asked to leave the property on her own while they continued their investigation, she began to argue with animal control and refused to leave, stating to the deputy that she knew her rights. According to the incident report, Kathryn was given ample opportunities by Deputy Haven to leave, but she refused and obstructed the investigation. Kathryn was eventually arrested and then transported to the Walker County Jail, where she refused to provide her name and date of birth to deputies. Deputy Haven had to get her name and information from animal control officers. According to a Walker County Jail booking card, Kathryn was charged with Felony Aggravated Animal Cruelty and Willful Obstruction of a Law Enforcement Officer.
According to the press release, “With the help of the Walker County Animal Shelter manager and her staff along with the Atlanta Humane Society Animal Protection Unit, over 100 cats and several dogs have been rescued and removed from the property over the next several days and relocated to the shelter and a temporary shelter site. The Georgia Department of Agriculture allows a temporary facility to be operated under the shelter’s license during an emergency. The animals at the temporary shelter site will remain there pending court proceedings. The Atlanta Humane Society team included a veterinarian who assessed the physical condition of the animals. The veterinarian advised over half of the animals needed immediate care for conditions ranging from serious fleas and ear mites to extreme malnourishment and upper respiratory conditions.”
According to the incident report, Animal control officers made contact with Kathryn’s husband Dee Darren Decker, 76, of 3787 South Dick Creek Road LaFayette, GA, who showed up to the address. According to the incident report, Dee stated that he is busy working two jobs and always made sure the cats had water and food when needed. According to the press release, “Authorities say Decker enabled his wife by paying for all of the food for the animals and had a disregard for the living conditions of the animals, which the couple also resided in.” Deputy Haven Reported, “Warrants were issued for Dee due to the obvious neglect and maliciously failing to provide adequate sanitary conditions and ventilation that is consistent with what a reasonable person of ordinary knowledge would believe is the normal requirement and feeding habit for such animal’s size, species, breed, age, and physical condition to the extent that results in death of such animal. On Tuesday August 15th, Dee was arrested and booked into the Walker County Jail on a felony charge of Aggravated Animal Cruelty. According to the press release, “A Magistrate Court judge set his bond at $5,000. Additional charges are pending on both Kathryn and Dee, as the investigation continues.
