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Written by: A. Smith
Published March 4, 2025 @ 8:30 AM ET
MURRAY COUNTY, Ga. – A couple has been arrested and charged with 165 combined counts of animal cruelty after authorities discovered dozens of dogs, both alive and deceased, at a residence in Murray County.
On January 21, 2025, a Murray County deputy was dispatched to a residence on Royal Oak Drive in response to a request for assistance from animal control. Upon arrival, the deputy observed a woman standing outside an animal control vehicle speaking with an officer. Before exiting the patrol vehicle, the deputy could hear multiple dogs barking from inside the house and saw several jumping in the window.
The woman was identified as Pauline M. Rogers, who stated that she had been attempting to find homes for the dogs. She claimed her husband, Mark Eugene Rogers, had won a lottery jackpot and abandoned her at the house with the animals, damaging her vehicle in the process so she could not transport them for help. Pauline stated that some of the dogs had died due to parvovirus or fighting amongst themselves. She also said she did not call animal control earlier because she feared the shelter was a kill facility.
Animal control officers found multiple deceased dogs on the property. Two deceased puppies were discovered on the right side of the front porch. More deceased dogs were found on the left end of the trailer, including one in a black trash bag that appeared to have been dead for more than 24 hours. Another white Chihuahua-like dog was discovered nearby with an open wound on its back thigh, which appeared to be an older injury. The deputy reported a strong odor of decomposition in the area.
Additional deceased dogs were located near a tree, with officers finding them inside a bag. Officers also examined a burn pile after discovering fur but could not confirm whether any animals had been burned there.
Pauline Rogers was able to contact her husband by phone, and he admitted that he had been coming and going from the property. When asked how long the deceased dogs had been there, he estimated 24 hours. The deputy challenged this timeline, noting that the condition of the remains suggested they had been there longer. Mark stated he could not bury the animals due to frozen ground. He also claimed that efforts had been made to find homes for the dogs and that Pauline had proof in an email, though she was unable to access it.
As more animal control officers arrived, Pauline estimated there were about 20 dogs inside the home. Upon entry, officers were immediately overwhelmed by a strong ammonia odor. Feces were caked on the floors, and the dogs inside were covered in urine and feces. Officers observed that many of the dogs were emaciated, with some appearing to be just skin and bones.
A total of 12 deceased dogs were found outside, and an estimated four to five litters of puppies were still alive. Further searches inside the home found an additional deceased black and white dog inside a bucket. The animal had fresh wounds on its throat and shoulder, leading officers to suspect it had been recently killed in a fight.
During the investigation, Pauline contacted her sister, who confirmed allegations of domestic abuse by Mark Rogers. She stated that Mark had been physically abusive to Pauline and had left her with the dogs while pursuing relationships with other women. The sister also alleged that Mark had knocked out Pauline’s teeth and that she often wore clothes to cover bruises. Additionally, Pauline’s son claimed that Mark had been abusive for at least a decade.
Pauline was arrested on-site for animal cruelty. After being handcuffed and secured in a patrol car, her sister arrived from Chattanooga, Tennessee, but Mark Rogers, who had claimed he was on his way from Chattanooga, never showed. Officers attempted to locate him at an address in Dalton and a gas station in Chatsworth known for housing gambling machines but were unsuccessful.
Animal control ultimately retrieved approximately 70 living dogs from the property. Given the number of deceased and living animals, Pauline was charged with 83 counts of animal cruelty.
On January 25, 2025, Mark Rogers was arrested on 82 counts of animal cruelty, as he was unaware of the black and white dog recently found dead in the house.
Both Pauline and Mark Rogers were booked into the Murray County Jail.
This case is currently pending in court.
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 the day of 1/21/2025, a Tuesday, I, Deputy Dodd S64, was dispatched to [100 BLOCK] Royal Oak Dr. Chatsworth, GA 30705 in regards to Animal Control [WITNESS #1] needed law enforcement assistance.
Once I arrived I seen a lady standing outside of the driver side door of the Animal Control truck where [WITNESS #1] was sitting talking with her.
Before I even opened my patrol car driver door, I could hear dogs barking in the house and seen multiple dogs jumping in one window. When I finally opened my car door and turned on my body camera I could hear multiple dogs inside the residence.
I walked up to Animal Control [WITNESS #1] and the female. I saw on the right side of the front porch on the ground laying a piece of tin was two puppies deceased. The female was then identified to be Pauline M Rogers who advised me that she has been trying to get rid of the dogs and find them homes and that her husband, Mark Eugene Rogers, told her that he had buried the deceased dogs before he left and that she never comes outside of her house. Pauline advised that Mark left her over the weekend.
Pauline then continued to advise me that Mark Rogers won the lottery on a Lottery ticket and left her stranded at this house with these dogs. Pauline advised that Mark messed up her van that was in the drive and there was no way to take the dogs to the lady in another state where the dogs could be re housed.
Pauline advised that she did not call Animal Control because she was scared and that she thought that Murray County Animal Control was a kill shelter. Also stated that some of the dogs died from Parvo or fighting killing each other.
[WITNESS #1] then showed me where more deceased dogs was located on the left end of the single wide trailer.
I seen there was a deceased dog in a black trash bag, to my knowledge has been deceased for more than 24 hours. I then looked to the left and seen a white Chihuahua like dog laying there deceased and looked to of been wet. The white dog had a visible open wound to its back right thigh that was believed to my eyes to be from another dog. The wound was open and black and not showing to be fresh. There was a rotting smell of rotten decay coming from the deceased animals.
[WITNESS #1] then showed where there was two puppies by a tree and [WITNESS #1] advised that she found them in the bag where (to picture) they was laying beside.
[WITNESS #1] and I walked around the house to be sure there was no other deceased animals on the property.
Time has past and Animal Control coordinator arrived on scene to assist and Code Enforcement was called out as well and arrived on scene a few moments later.
[WITNESS #1] then walked over to a burn pile with Animal Control Coordinator and advised that she found some fur. While trying to look through the burn pile we could not physically determine if there was any dogs that was burned in the burn pile.
Pauline advised that she had her husband Mark Rogers on the phone.
I spoke to Mark Rogers and I asked him if he lives there and Mark advised that he comes and goes. I then asked Mark how long the deceased dogs have been dead and Mark advised, to the best of my knowledge, 24 hours. I advised Mark that these dogs have been dead longer than 24 hours and Mark advised that he “can not dig in cold hard ground.” Mark then advised me that he was coming from Chattanooga, TN and that he would be at the residence in an hour and that they have been getting someone to get the dogs and that Pauline has the email for proof.
I asked Pauline for the email and she advised that she can not get into her email to show me.
The rest of Animal Control showed up on scene.
Due to Mark saying he was going to be coming in an hour, I called for Deputy Windom S120 to assist me in case Mark was to cause issues.
Deputy Windom S120 and CPL Robinson S14 arrived on scene to assist.
Pauline advised that she has been feeding the dogs and was trying her best.
When Pauline was asked how many dogs was in the house she advised, “20.”
Pauline called her sister [WITNESS #2] and I spoke with [WITNESS #2] who advised that she lives in Chattanooga, TN. [WITNESS #2] advised that Mark Rogers is abusive to Pauline and that he one the lottery and left her for this other women and that Mark has been physically abusive with Pauline before and currently and that Mark would bring in dogs from the street and leave Pauline stranded at the house with nothing. [WITNESS #2] advised that Mark Rogers is responsible for all this as well. I asked [WITNESS #2] how long it has been with these dogs and she advised that she did not know. [WITNESS #2] then advised that Pauline texted her and told her where a lady from another state was suppose to take the dogs and that Pauline has even been trying to get rid of some dogs to people.
Pauline advised that Mark would get mad at her when she would get rid of the dogs and that’s why he broke her van so she could not go anywhere.
Animal Control was ready to retrieve the dogs that was in the house.
Pauline was in the house to catch the dogs and hand them to animal control to be placed in the Van and the two Animal Control trucks.
All dogs was covered in urine and feces and smelled very badly. The dogs looked malnourished and seen where there quite a few that was skin and bone.
I counted 12 deceased dogs outside and approximately 4 – 5 litters of puppies that was alive coming from the residence.
Pauline gave permission for us to come in the house to be sure there was no more dogs.
When we entered the side door to the trailer, a very strong odor of ammonia came from the residence and could barely breathe in the conditions.
CPL Robinson found a litter of puppies in a a self made fenced area in one corner of the living room in the house. The puppies was retrieved and taken to the mother dog by Animal Control.
There was feces all over the floor that was caked together from a long period of time and there was a terrible smell of urine.
There was more dogs found after Pauline had advised us prior to coming in the house that there was no more dogs.
CPL Robinson found another deceased dog in a blue bucket sitting on top of stuff where other dogs could not reach.
The deceased dog was a black and white dog and it had a open bloody wound to its throat and the right front shoulder. Animal Control [WITNESS #3] advised that the dog was possibly deceased for couple hours.
Pauline advised then when the deceased dog was located that she came out before the dogs was being handed out and told me that the dog was dead while we was outside because the dogs was fighting and killed it. I do not recall the conversation, I advised Pauline what was all over her (due to it looked like feces) when she came out the house from hearing dogs fighting and I recall her only explaining that it was from the dogs fighting.
Pauline Rogers was then arrested for Animal Abuse and was placed in handcuffs, where the cuffs was checked and double locked. Pauline was placed in the back of my patrol car.
[WITNESS #2], Pauline’s sister, arrived on scene from Chattanooga, TN and there was no sign of Mark Rogers who advised he was also coming from Chattanooga, TN.
[WITNESS #2] was wishing to speak with me.
[WITNESS #2] advised that Pauline has a big heart and that Mark has been abusing her. [WITNESS #2] advised that Pauline’s teeth is like they are because Mark knocked her teeth out before. [WITNESS #2] then advised that, that is why Pauline looks the way she does and that Pauline has been wearing clothes before to cover up bruises. Also advised that Mark leaves Pauline to see other women and abandon Pauline with the dogs.
[WITNESS #2] had Pauline’s son, [REDACTED], on the phone and he advised that 10 years ago he walked in on Mark Rogers beating on his mother and that it lead to him and Mark getting in a fight and that Pauline told him [REDACTED] to leave. [REDACTED] advised that Mark won about roughly 250,000 dollars.
I was advised that Mark Rogers, will at times be at his mothers at address [700 BLOCK] Timberlake Dr. Dalton, GA 30721 and if he isn’t there then he is at the gas stations in Chatsworth, GA playing on the gambling machines, possibly River Side.
CPL Robinson advised that he had negative contact with Mark at Riverside Grocery.
Pauline was then transported to the Murray County Jail with no issue and was turned over to jail staff. Pauline was handed a pamphlet for Domestic Outreach Program to be placed in her property for her to have when she gets released from jail.
Pauline Rogers was charged with 83 counts of Animal Cruelty.
Mark Rogers is charged with a Warrant of 82 counts of Animal Cruelty due to Mark not having knowledge about the black and white dog that was deceased in the house and Pauline placed it in a blue bucket.
Animal Control [WITNESS #3] later in the day advised there is over 70 dogs alive, but did not have a solid count at this time.
I done 70 alive dogs plus the 13 known deceased for Pauline’s 83 count Animal Cruelty.
I also done 70 alive dogs plus the known at the time of arrival of 12 deceased for Mark’s 82 count Animal Cruelty.
Photo’s of the deceased dogs and inside the residence was taken and uploaded to Attach Documents.
[WITNESS #2] allowed me to take photo’s between her and Pauline’s conversation about the dogs and Mark.
[End of Narrative]