Thirty dogs were found on a property near Lynden, Washington, in conditions that left investigators noting visible bones, open wounds, and fur matted with waste.
The property was run by someone who had been receiving donated food and thousands of dollars in contributions to care for them.
What Deputies Found on Russet Avenue
Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office detectives responded to a call about an animal cruelty situation at a property on Russet Avenue off State Route 539 near Lynden.
What they found was documented in detail. Dogs with open wounds. Visible bones. Fur matted with feces. Evidence of worms. Foul odors throughout the housing areas. No adequate food or water.
Thirty dogs were living in those conditions.
Who Was Responsible
As Fox 13 Seattle reported on the Whatcom County cruelty case, the dogs were under the care of Pittie Project PNW. Detectives identified the founder, 38-year-old Ashley Georgia of Bellingham, as the person solely responsible for the animals at the property.
Investigators also learned that Georgia had received donated food and thousands of dollars in financial contributions for the animals’ care. The dogs showed no signs of that care.
This is not the first time a rescue operation has been found housing dogs in conditions far from what donors imagined. Pierce County authorities removed 17 animals from an unlicensed rescue operating without food or water, a pattern that keeps appearing behind closed rescue doors.
What Volunteers Did Before Authorities Arrived
Before deputies ever responded, volunteers had already discovered the conditions at the property and removed 13 dogs on their own.
That means people who cared enough to volunteer for this organization saw what was happening, took action, and still 30 more dogs remained when investigators arrived.
Have you ever donated to an animal rescue and later questioned where that money actually went? Tell me in the comments.
Where the Dogs Are Now
All 30 dogs are now under the care of the Whatcom Humane Society, where they are receiving medical evaluation and treatment.
Recovery from this level of neglect takes time. Loretta, rescued from neglect in Arizona, spent nearly a year in shelter care before she was ready for adoption, which is why Whatcom Humane Society is right to take the time these dogs need.
The shelter confirmed the dogs are not available for adoption or foster at this time. Criminal charges are pending against Georgia, though the specific charges had not been announced at the time of reporting.
Why This Matters
Cases like this are not rare. According to Humane World for Animals on animal cruelty facts, serious animal neglect such as hoarding is often an indicator of people in need of social or mental health services, and most animal cruelty cases are never reported.
Many cases involve individuals who present themselves as rescuers while conditions deteriorate behind closed doors.
Responders who document the worst cases carry those images. Sally, a German Shepherd found near death in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, was described by rescue workers as the worst case they had encountered, the same language used by investigators who have seen these situations before.
Donors and volunteers trusted Pittie Project PNW to do right by these animals. The animals paid for that misplaced trust.
Key Takeaways
- 30 dogs were rescued from a Whatcom County property near Lynden after being found in extremely poor condition.
- The property was operated by Ashley Georgia, 38, founder of Pittie Project PNW, who had received donated food and thousands of dollars for the animals’ care.
- Volunteers had already removed 13 dogs before authorities responded.
- The dogs are now at Whatcom Humane Society receiving medical care and are not yet available for adoption.
- Criminal charges against Georgia are pending.
The Name Said Rescue. The Reality Was Different.
Thirty dogs found starving. Bones visible. Donations spent. The volunteers who noticed first acted before anyone else did.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Details are based on public reports and may change as the investigation develops.
[…] noticing but not knowing when to act is a recurring theme in these cases. Deputies responding to an animal cruelty call near Lynden, Washington found 30 dogs in severe condition after volunteers had already removed 13 on their own before […]