Woman charged with animal cruelty

A Monroe woman was arrested last week on animal cruelty charges after a Barrow County Sheriff’s deputy found several dogs in various stages of distress tied up at her residence outside the home without food or water.

Christy Elaine Ladner, 29, of 545 Manning Gin Road, was taken to Barrow County jail on seven misdemeanor charges of cruelty to animals.

According to an incident report, on Sunday, Aug. 27, Barrow County Sheriff’s deputy Shayne Hunnicutt responded to the above address due to a 911 hang up cal. He met with a 58-year-old female who said she called by mistake. The woman, who was identified as Ladner’s grandmother, told Hunnicutt she dialed 911 the night before to report that she had been left home alone.

Hunnicutt reported several dead trees on the property and the yard was littered with animal feces, producing a strong odor. He counted seven dogs total that were tied or chained around the residence, including one tangled in a wire cable tied to the front porch that he let free upon seeing. The dogs reportedly did not appear to be fed or watered in several days.

At one point, one of the dogs attacked another, and Hunnicutt reported while he and an assisting deputy were trying to break them free of one another, he was forced to shoot the aggressive dog to cause it to release the injured dog’s nose from its grip.

Hunnicutt contacted the Barrow County Magistrate Judge, who advised him to contact Animal Control if the dogs were in need of medical attention. The deputies took pictures of the residence to be placed in evidence.

Ladner arrived home as Animal Control officer Randy Greer arrived to gather up the dogs. She told Hunnicutt that the animals were fed everyday and given water all the time. Ladner further said the dogs were not in poor health and did not need medical attention. Hunnicutt placed her under arrest for animal cruelty.

Ladner was taken to the Barrow County jail. All six dogs along with the dead dog were taken off the property by Animal Control.