A Towns County man was arrested and charged with cruelty to animals after complaints were made about the conditions of the animals on Old Chicken Farm Rd in Young Harris, GA.

An investigation on Jan. 6, led to the arrest of Laneau Hayes, 75.

Hayes is listed as a Doctor on the Union General Hospital directory in Blairsville, GA.

According to Towns County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation “revealed that there were several cats living in deplorable conditions. The cats were covered in feces and their hair was matted.”

Subsequently, the cats were “turned over to The Whiskers Project and The Mountain Shelter Humane Society.”