Hart County kennel owner accused of allowing dogs to starve

HARTWELL - A dog kennel owner allowed dozens of his dogs to starve and now faces criminal charges, authorities said.<br> <br> Chris Eadie, owner of the kennel, was found with 70 malnourished dogs on his property when sheriff&#39;s deputies visited Friday to follow up on an anonymous tip. At least five dogs died.<br> <br> Hart County Sheriff Mike Cleveland said Monday he isn&#39;t sure what Eadie will be charged with.<br> <br> ``I&#39;m pushing for a felony,&#39;&#39; Cleveland said. ``The way the law reads, it could be a misdemeanor, believe it or not.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> A deputy who responded to the call Friday saw one dead dog near the entrance to the kennel and others elsewhere on the site, Cleveland said.<br> <br> Authorities then obtained a search warrant and searched the area.<br> <br> ``It was just a filth hole,&#39;&#39; Cleveland told the Athens Banner-Herald. Some dogs, he said, were chained to walls with no roof overhead.<br> <br> In all, deputies found about 70 malnourished dogs. In addition to the three animals initially found dead, two other dogs died before deputies and aid workers could take the animals to area rescue missions.<br> <br> The surviving dogs will remain at the rescue missions for at least a week before they will be put up for adoption.