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Written by: A. Smith
Published July 18, 2025 @ 10:01 AM ET
DADE COUNTY, Ga. – A north Georgia couple is facing multiple felony charges after authorities discovered more than 250 animals, some dead and many neglected, inside their Dade County home.
Nathaniel Levon Curington, 44, and Aimee Renee Curington, 45, were arrested after a joint investigation by the Georgia Department of Agriculture and the Dade County Sheriff’s Office. Both are charged with seven felony counts of animal cruelty and are being held at the Dade County Jail.
“This is one of the worst cases of animal abuse and neglect we have seen, and I am confident these individuals will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said in a statement. “GDA Law Enforcement is sending a clear message that animal abuse has no place in the state of Georgia.”
Authorities executed an inspection warrant at the couple’s home on Sells Lane in Trenton after receiving a complaint and repeated denials of entry by the homeowners. During a 14-hour operation, officials removed 256 animals from the property. Some were already dead. The surviving animals were taken to a secondary location for veterinary treatment.
Officers said many of the dogs, mostly French Bulldogs and Pomeranians, were kept in conditions consistent with an illegal puppy mill and animal hoarding.
“I have never groomed this many dogs in one day, especially in such horrific condition,” vet tech and groomer Sarah Mozzott told Channel 2 Action News. “Their fur was so badly matted I actually had to use a surgical-grade blade on their skin to get underneath the mats.”
The Georgia Department of Agriculture credited multiple local agencies and nonprofits with helping carry out the rescue effort, including animal control units and shelters from at least seven counties, local police, veterinary hospitals, and animal welfare groups.
Eighteen of the rescued dogs were taken to the Forsyth County Animal Shelter and are expected to be available for adoption in about two weeks.
The case has been turned over to the Dade County District Attorney’s Office for possible additional charges and prosecution.