Dear Editor:

I am writing concerning the “rotting dog” report on page 2 in the Sept. 22 edition. As an animal lover, I was outraged and sickened. This condition did not occur over several days or even several weeks; it took months and months of willful neglect by the owner to reach this state.

My concern is now that animal lovers and the public have this information, where will this unlawful behavior on the part of the owner wind up? It is a felony in the state of Georgia to kill a dog; there are laws against dog abuse, neglect, cruelty and dog fighting. I want to see this owner pay for this, and I want to learn about it on the front page of LaGrange Daily News.

In August, there was a report concerning the poisoning of several kittens, observed by a neighbor who called the authorities. That was all we ever heard. What happened to the animal abuser?

I commend the Daily News for reporting on animal abuse, but I would like to know more. What are the owner’s names and addresses? Were the animals checked by a veterinarian? Were pictures taken of the animals, perhaps to be used in building a case against them? I want to see this on page 1 of the paper. I want to know that the owners of these poor animals reap the penalties for inflicting such cruelty/abuse/neglect upon them.

I sincerely hope that getting the word out on the front page that animal abuse carries a stiff penalty in Troup County might deter such actions in the future.

Nancy Yates

Upper Glass Bridge Road, LaGrange

(The dog case was forwarded to criminal investigators, and a woman was charged with cruelty to animals. Photos of the dog were made at the residence and animal shelter. – Editor)