Two juveniles were removed from a Cartersville residence Monday night after law enforcement and Bartow County DFCS officials determined the home was unsuitable for children.
According to a sheriff’s office report, deputies responded around 11:32 p.m. Sept. 14 to a home on Rubie Lane to assist DFCS with removing the children. Officers reported finding extensive unsanitary conditions throughout the residence, including dog feces, insects, spider webs, rat droppings and a strong odor of animal waste.
The report states deputies also observed rats running through the pantry and found little food available in the home. The children’s bedrooms reportedly contained dirty, uncovered mattresses, insects and other debris. A bathroom used by the children was described as nonfunctional and unsanitary.
Deputies also found seven puppies being kept in a bathroom with a large amount of fecal matter on the floor. Animal Control was contacted and took custody of the puppies, with plans to return for additional animals reportedly at the property.
The children’s guardian told deputies the residence had been in that condition for some time and said he had struggled to maintain the home following the death of his partner. He also said he had adopted the children when they were babies and that they had lived with him for most of their lives.
DFCS removed both children from the residence and arranged placement. The guardian was arrested on two counts of second-degree cruelty to children. Arrest warrants were later obtained through the Bartow County Magistrate.
The case remains subject to the legal process, and the allegations contained in the report have not been adjudicated in court.
AI Assist