GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. — Eight dogs rescued from an alleged abusive Glynn County home on Dec. 1, are now getting a second chance at life.
Glynn County Animal Services says four dogs have been rescued, three are still available to be fostered or adopted and one is undergoing medical treatment for injuries at a veterinary clinic.
"She's just precious," foster parent Linda Brown said. "I think she's just happy to have a home."
As first time foster parents, Brown and Robin Pickren have given Emily a new home just three weeks after she was brought to the shelter.
"She's just got a very sweet temperament," Brown said. "You would never know that anything had happened to her."
Emily is one of the eight dogs rescued from the home on Blain Street.
"We were initially called out to come and pick up one dog and then it turned into eight," Animal Control Officer Jennifer Sanders told First Coast News.
Glynn County Police say the investigation started in late-November with the report of a child with a black eye at the home in Brunswick. Police say the child was punched in his face by his father over a puppy. A few days later, police executed a search warrant of the home.
Glynn County Police say at least ten puppies were buried in the front yard and the eight dogs rescued, were found alive inside the home.
Cecil and Theresa Mullins are charged with child cruelty and eight counts of animal cruelty.
Cecil Mullins admitted to punching the child, strangling one of the puppies to death and making children bury the dog. Investigators say one of the buried puppies had a crushed skull. Theresa Mullins told police that none of the dogs had been taken to the vet in more than three years.
"I had no idea that she had been abused or anything," Brown said. "If they don't care enough about an animal, then they aren't going to care enough about a child. It was just sad. It made you want to cry when you saw how sweet she was."
Sanders says the dogs were not emaciated, but were 'very unsocialized.' They are being trained at the shelter.
The Glynn County Major Crimes Division is investigating the case.