Nassau Humane takes in German shepherds; Georgia woman facing animal cruelty charges

Nassau County Humane Society is caring for some of the 163 German shepherds rescued from a Georgia woman’s home.

Deputies say Angela Powell is charged with animal cruelty after they found the dogs living in deplorable conditions on her Candler County property.

“There’s so much caked feces on them and matting. It’s all falling off of them right now, some are losing their hair,” Nassau Humane executive director Jacki McDonald said.

Action News Jax was there Sunday as five of the rescues were unloaded at Nassau Humane. More are expected to arrive next week.

STORY: German shepherds, victims of Georgia puppy mill, brought to Nassau County

McDonald said one of the dogs they took in is extremely underweight.

“They’re very scared to be touched and approached,” McDonald said. “If we just sit there quietly, they’ll sometimes come over to us but if we reach they run away.”

She said she and her colleagues have been working hard to clean them up, and a vet will check them out on Tuesday.

She said the animals will then spend the next few weeks getting used to being around people. “That’s just the time we need in the next few weeks to get them acclimated to people touching them and loving them,” she said.

She said the dogs won't be ready for fostering or adoption until after that time. She said the humane society could use supplies to help care for them -- from laundry detergent and bleach to monetary donations. Anyone interested in donating can do so here.

As Nassau Humane and other rescue groups care for the animals, Powell is in jail.

Deputies say three dogs had to be euthanized after being found on the property.

Action News Jax Law & Safety Expert Dale Carson said the maximum sentence for animal cruelty is typically five years in prison.

He said the rescue groups helping the animals could bring a civil suit against Powell to cover the cost of their care.

Cox Media Group