Robert Walker

Name:
Walker, Robert Stephen

Date of Booking:
09/13/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
Aggravated Cruelty To Animals

Aggravated Cruelty To Animals

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 September 8, 2026 at approximately 1517 hours, Deputy James arrived at [100 BLOCK] Terrapin Way unit [REDACTED] in reference to cruelty to animals. Deputy James had been informed by [REDACTED], the director of the Whitfield County Animal Shelter, that one of their rescue partners, [REDACTED] with the Rescue House, had received a complaint of animal cruelty at this address. [REDACTED] stated that she had been informed that a husband and wife, later identified as Brittany Walker and Robert Stephen Walker who was called “Stephen” by parties in this case, were separating.

[REDACTED] stated that she was informed by [REDACTED] that Brittany had moved out approximately 3 weeks ago and that Robert refused to feed the dogs that were left at the residence by Brittany and that 2 dogs were dead in kennels on the property. [REDACTED] forwarded pictures to Deputy James that were sent to her by [REDACTED]. [REDACTED] stated that [REDACTED] had been sent the pictures of the dogs by a [WITNESS #1] subject, later identified as [WITNESS #1]. The pictures showed screenshots of a conversation between [REDACTED] and [WITNESS #1] as well as 3 dogs in wire kennels that appeared to be inside of a small enclosure constructed of wood pallets and tarps.

The dogs pictured in the kennels were a brown in color bulldog, a brown and white in color bulldog, and a grey and tan in color bulldog. There was also a smaller black in color dog pictured that was not in a kennel and appeared to be in a fenced area or loose. The bulldogs were in wire kennels just big enough for them to fit, but offered no exercise room. The kennels appeared to be only big enough for the dogs to stand, turn around, and lay down, but nothing more. In one of the pictures sent to Deputy James, all of the bowls inside the kennels were either overturned or empty. In another picture, Deputy James observed that there was food present in one of the bowls.

Deputy James later learned that [WITNESS #1] had her son in law, an [REDACTED] subject that Deputy James did not interact with or get his information, go to the residence and give the dogs dog food due to them being “pitiful” when she saw them and took pictures of the dogs. The screenshots of the conversation consisted of [WITNESS #1] telling [REDACTED] that 2 of the dogs in the kennels were dead and 1 was “almost dead.” When [REDACTED] asked about this, [WITNESS #1] stated that she had “papaw,” later identified as [WITNESS #2], check on the dogs and he had observed the deceased dogs. It was unknown how much time had passed from the time these pictures were taken until [WITNESS #2] observed the dogs deceased.

When Deputy James arrived at the residence, he could smell the smell of decomposition immediately upon exiting his vehicle. Deputy James activated his body worn camera at this point. Deputy James observed 5 smaller dogs loose and a male subject that identified himself as [WITNESS #2] on the porch of [100 BLOCK] Terrapin Way unit [REDACTED]. Deputy James also observed a “fenced” area containing a tarp covered enclosure behind [100 BLOCK] Terrapin Way unit [REDACTED] which appeared consistent with the pictures that had been sent to Deputy James by [REDACTED].

Deputy Hackney also arrived with Deputy James to assist. Deputy James spoke to [WITNESS #2] who stated that the loose dogs and the dogs that were in the kennels were left on the property by Brittany when she left about 3 weeks ago. When asked who was currently living in the residence, [WITNESS #2] stated that “Stephen,” referring to Robert Walker, lives at [100 BLOCK] Terrapin Way unit [REDACTED]. [WITNESS #2] stated that Robert doesn’t feed or water the animals left by Brittany, but takes care of the dogs that Robert claimed as his own. Robert was not home and Deputies could hear and see dogs come to the window of [100 BLOCK] Terrapin Way unit [REDACTED].

[WITNESS #2] stated that Robert had 3 dogs inside the residence and another in a fence on his ([WITNESS #2]), side of the property. Deputy James observed the dog behind [WITNESS #2]’s side of the residence and it appeared to be healthy. Deputy Hackney told Deputy James that the dog he saw in the window also looked healthy. While Deputy James was talking to [WITNESS #2], [WITNESS #2] stated that he had been asked by [WITNESS #1] to check on the dogs and that is when he observed that 2 of the 3 bulldogs were dead in the kennels.

When Deputies walked to the back of the residence, the smell of decomposition grew stronger the closer they got to the wood and tarp enclosure and a large number of flies could be seen coming and going from an opening in the enclosure. This opening appeared to be a doorway that was partially blocked off by a piece of plywood. Because of these factors, Deputy James tried to contact Robert via telephone, but he was unsuccessful. [WITNESS #2] then called Robert and Robert answered the phone.

Deputy James spoke to Robert via [WITNESS #2]’s telephone. Deputy James asked Robert about the dogs in the wood/tarp enclosure and Robert stated that they were not his and they belong to Brittany. When Deputy James asked Robert why he had not been feeding the dogs, Robert stated that they were not his and that he “did not have time.” Deputy James asked Robert about Brittany, Robert stated that he had filed for divorce from her and she had moved out approximately 3 weeks to a month ago.

Robert stated that he tried to get Brittany to come get the dogs and told her that he could not feed her dogs and his too. Because the tarp enclosure was part of Robert’s side of the property, Deputy James asked Robert if Deputies could look in the wood and tarp enclosure. Robert stated that he “did not care” because the enclosure was not his and it was also Brittany’s. Deputy James tried to contact Brittany, but the number given for her was disconnected.

Because of the evidence of something deceased in the enclosure and Robert’s statement saying he did not care if Deputies looked in the enclosure, Deputy James looked through the opening of the enclosure. Deputy James observed the brown in color bulldog and the brown and white in color bulldog deceased in individual wire kennels. Deputy James also observed a grey and tan in color bulldog in a wire kennel that appeared to be severely underweight with most of its ribs showing. Deputy James did not observe a water source in any of the kennels.

Deputy James took pictures to upload to Evidence.com. Deputy James seized the grey and tan bulldog that was still alive due to the cruelty. When Deputy James moved a storage container to get the live bulldog out of its kennel, he observed that the kennel of the Brown in white in color bulldog had dog food just outside of the kennel and the dog had died with its nose pressed into the wire of the kennel as if it died while trying to get to the dog food just out of its reach.

When Deputy James got the grey and tan bulldog out of its kennel, he observed that the dog had most of its ribs showing, vertebra of the spine showing, and hip and shoulder bones also visible. These are all signs of severe malnutrition. Deputy Hackney assisted Deputy James in catching the 5 small dogs for them being loose and unattended. Deputy James transported the 6 dogs to the Whitfield County Animal Shelter without incident.

Once at the Whitfield County Animal Shelter, [REDACTED] gave the grey and tan in color bulldog a body condition score of 2 with a weight of 29.1 pounds. Based on Deputy James’ experience, a normal weight for the bulldog would be 40 to 50 pounds and an ideal body condition score would be a 4 or 5. This weight was obtained after shelter staff had put the bulldog in a kennel where Deputy James observed that the dog immediately began gorging itself on water. Deputy James recorded this with his body camera as well. When the skin of the dog’s neck was pinched and pulled away from the body, the skin stayed distended and did not snap back into place upon release.

Based on Deputy James’ experience, this is a sign of dehydration and [REDACTED] also confirmed that the dog was indeed very dehydrated. When the bulldog was presented with food and water, it again began gorging itself on water and ignored the food. [REDACTED] stated that this was another sign of severe dehydration and that the dog’s body was telling it that it needed water more than food.

Deputy James then spoke to [REDACTED] with the Rescue House via telephone. [REDACTED] stated that she had been contacted by [WITNESS #1] that morning regarding the cruelty and she had forwarded the information she obtained to [REDACTED]. [REDACTED] stated that [WITNESS #1] had sent [WITNESS #2] with food to feed the dogs because Brittany had moved out and she assumed the dogs were not getting fed. [REDACTED] stated that this is where they discovered that the dogs were emaciated. [REDACTED] stated that she only spoke to [WITNESS #1] and had not been to the residence, but [WITNESS #1] had sent her the pictures which she forwarded to [REDACTED]. This conversation was recorded with Deputy James’ body worn camera.

Deputy James then spoke to [WITNESS #1] via telephone. [WITNESS #1] stated that she was the one who called rescue and that she “was not sorry” that she called. During this conversation [WITNESS #1] also referred to Robert Walker as “Stephen.” [WITNESS #1] stated that Robert owned the “pitbulls” in the house and Brittany owned the “pittbulls” that were outside. [WITNESS #1] confirmed that Brittany had moved out 3 weeks to a month ago and she had been telling her that she needed to come get her dogs.

[WITNESS #1] stated, “I even told Stephen (Robert), I said at least buy dog food. He says I’ve got dog food here, I got to where I feed my others. I said someone has got to feed them dogs.” This is where [WITNESS #1] stated that she had the [REDACTED] subject go give the dogs food because when she had gone down there the dogs looked “pitiful.” [WITNESS #1] then again states that she told Robert to “feed them dogs” and she stated that Robert told her “if I feed those dogs that’s what Brittany wants me to do” and [WITNESS #1] mentions they, Brittany and Robert, are going through something.

[WITNESS #1] also stated that Robert asked her to “tell the police I take care of my dogs.” [WITNESS #1] also stated, “In his (Robert) mental mind, if he fed those dogs Brittany’s getting away with walking out and being with another man and he’s stuck with 6 dogs 7 dogs However many 8.” When Deputy James asked [WITNESS #1] if Robert was refusing to feed the dogs since Britany had left, [WITNESS #1] stated, “He said he did feed them. He said he was feeding them, but he couldn’t afford to feed her dogs, and his dogs, and take care of his son.”

[WITNESS #1] stated the dogs “living like that, that was ridiculous. For them to live like that, I came I couldn’t sleep. I was crying. I said this is not right for them dogs to be in there like that.” This conversation was also recorded with Deputy James’ body worn camera.

Because of the evidence observed by Deputy James, the statements made by Robert and others indicating willful neglect of the 3 dogs resulting in the death of 2 and the disfiguring of another, Deputy James will be applying for an arrest warrant for Robert Stephen Walker for 3 counts of the offense of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals OCGA 16-12-4(d). This case will be left active pending warrant application.

[End of Narrative]