Woman arraigned in disturbing Fulton County animal abuse case

A Fulton County woman accused of animal cruelty and neglect for the second time appeared in Mayfield Court on Tuesday.

There was also a big group of animal advocates there. All of them were hoping that the dogs would be free to be adopted. That did not happen.

Sue Kelly was arraigned on 55 counts of animal cruelty. The dogs were all seized in July from Kelly’s Haven on Highway 349 in Mayfield.

New photos of what investigators say are some of the dogs’ injuries are tough to look at. There are maggots in many wounds. (You can see some of the photos by watching the video.)

Authorities say 50+ dogs and other animals were living in filthy conditions with not enough clean water or shelter.

Those animals have gotten medical treatment at shelters like the Fulton County Regional SPCA.
Kelly was arrested last month. 

NewsChannel 13 was there 11 years ago, when more than 300 animals were found in what investigators say were terrible conditions at that same property.

The attorney for the SPCA was there to get a hearing to get Kelly to pay for the costs of treating and caring for the animals, or give them up.

Mayfield Judge John Papa looked to get the dogs’ future settled on Tuesday, but there’s a lot of evidence to get through. 

The security bond hearing is Monday.

Kelly and her attorney declined to speak with NewsChannel 13 on Tuesday.

While prosecutors want to see Kelly pay for the animals’ care, they also want the judge to impose another order on Kelly. Learn about that by watching the video of Kumi Tucker’s story.