Charlotte Ates

Name:
Ates, Charlotte Denise

Date of Booking:
01/21/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
AGGRAVATED CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]

On October 3, 2025, Animal Enforcement Officers Mitchell and Ortiz responded to a complaint of an abandoned animal. The animal was discovered by Civil Deputy Walker while serving an eviction dispossessory.

Upon arrival, Deputy Walker directed Officers Mitchell and Ortiz to the location of the animal. Officer Mitchell observed a small dog that appeared severely emaciated. Further examination revealed that the dog was infested with fleas and suffering from a severe skin condition affecting its entire body. The animal’s body condition was assessed as 1 out of 9 on the Purina Body Condition Scale, indicating extreme emaciation.

Officer Mitchell spoke with [REDACTED], the daughter of the suspect. [REDACTED], along with Ates, stated that the dog was a stray that had been around for approximately two months. Officer Mitchell questioned the accuracy of this statement due to the presence of a crate and other pet-related items at the scene. Officer Ortiz conducted additional investigation and located Facebook posts dated August 24, 2025, showing [REDACTED] with the same dog, indicating prior ownership.

The animal was secured by Officer Mitchell and transported to BCAS for intake. Arrangements were made for a rescue to assume care of the dog for veterinary treatment. [REDACTED] from Pawsome Rescue accepted the dog and transported it to Houston Veterinary Clinic for evaluation.

The attending veterinarian confirmed that the dog was severely malnourished and suffering from a bacterial skin infection, which had caused a fever of 104°F, indicating systemic infection. Despite treatment, the dog’s condition deteriorated, and on October 17, 2025, the rescue reported that the animal had passed away. The veterinarian concluded that the dog suffered from multiple severe illnesses related to prolonged neglect.

Following this, Officer Mitchell contacted Ates by telephone. Ates did not initially answer but returned the call shortly thereafter. Officer Mitchell introduced herself and explained the purpose of the call. Ates began by claiming the dog was a stray; however, upon being informed of the Facebook evidence, she admitted that she had purchased the animal from a breeder in Warner Robins, Georgia, approximately two years prior. Ates further admitted that due to her personal circumstances, the animal had not been properly cared for. She acknowledged ownership and expressed remorse.

The investigation determined that the animal was subjected to prolonged suffering and pain due to Ates’ failure to provide adequate food, veterinary care, and proper shelter. These conditions ultimately resulted in the animal’s death, even with subsequent veterinary intervention, as its body was unable to recover from infection and malnutrition.

Warrants for Aggravated Animal Cruelty will be sought for Ates.

[End of Narrative]