Authorities have rescued 68 animals from a hoarding situation in LaGrange last week.

The Atlanta Humane Society is taking care of 23 dogs rescued from the home on Butts Mill Road, and the LaGrange Humane Society has received a similar number.

Eleven of the rescued dogs are ready for adoption in Atlanta. They include a few large breeds, some Chihuahuas, Miniature Pinschers, mixes and a handful of puppies.

The dogs were reported to the Troup County Marshal’s Office on Sept. 12. At the house, marshals discovered several dogs in kennels to the right of the driveway and about 35 dogs in a fenced-in area in the front of the house.

They also noticed a strong smell of ammonia coming from the home. Unable to reach the front door due to a number of aggressive dogs blocking the path, one of the marshals knocked on the back door, which was partially open, and noticed several more dogs inside.

The owner was not at home so the marshals decided to return later. The next day, Cheryl Cantrel was arrested on charges of unlawful acts by a licensed person.

There are still about seven dogs left on the property, and animal control has set traps to catch the remaining dogs, Chief Lonza Edmondson of the Troup County Marshal’s Office said.

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Demonstrators protest President Donald Trump and Elon Musk on Presidents Day in front of the Capitol in Atlanta on Monday, February 17, 2025, as part of nationwide demonstrations organized by the 50501 movement. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

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