Shirley S. Eubanks, 49, 517 South Green Street, was charged with 15 counts of nuisance ordinance violations after police were called to her house just after 10 a.m.
"The odor was so strong we didn't know what was going on and by the time we got in the house, we found she had 15 dogs living with her," said Thomaston Police Officer Bobby Ellington who is in charge of the city's Animal Control Division.
"The smell was so bad from the street, we were concerned there might be a deceased person inside," Ellington said, adding the Green Street case is the worst he has seen in years.
Relatives told The Times the woman did not intend to mistreat the dogs, but took in more strays than she could handle because of her love of animals.
The investigation of the house was conducted jointly by the city and county animal control, including Animal Shelter Manager Smart Web.
When police and animal control officers got inside, they found the floors covered with feces, the house damaged and in disarray and flea infested.
"A situation like that is awful" said Annie Johnston, an environmental health specialist with the Upson Health Department. "A situation like that can cause different illnesses, most notably intestinal tract problems."
According to reports, the dogs, mostly smaller mixed breeds, caused between $20,000 to $30,000 in damages to the house.
"We run into problems like this from time to time in the county, but this case is bad," Web said. "A lot of these dogs have health problems ... These dogs are in pretty bad shape."
He said the dogs would receive treatment for fleas at the shelter.
Web said problems such as this need to be addressed and that he is thankful to receive cooperation from the Thomaston Police Department and the Upson County Sheriff's Department.
"People often want us to get involved when they see situations like this, but the problem is that we just don't have enforcement authority," Web said. "We have to call the police or the sheriff's department, but by the time they get there, it is often too late."
Web said the dogs would probably remain available for adoption for a week or two, but said eventually the ones not adopted would have to be put down
(Thomaston Times - Sept 5, 2003)
