Several Dogs Killed By Parvovirus, Found In Feces-Filled Cumming Home

CUMMING — Six people are in jail after Forsyth County authorities say several dogs died of untreated parvovirus, with 12 other dogs and two bearded dragons seized from an unkept Archer Avenue home.

The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office was asked Thursday to assist the Forsyth County Animal Services Division with an animal cruelty case, the sheriff's office said Wednesday.

Authorities said Animal Services first engaged in the case in April 2023, when a puppy that was sold from the home died of parvovirus, the extremely contagious disease.

Animal Services instructed the residents to not adopt other animals until the home and the other animals at the residence were cleared from parvovirus, authorities said.

The residents ignored the directive, and in December 2023, two more puppies were humanely euthanized due to the virus, authorities said.

Additionally, two puppies became sick with parvovirus in January, authorities said.

"One of those puppies was humanely euthanized due to the severity of the illness and the other was seized by the vet and treated for parvovirus," authorities said in a news release.

Animal Services returned to the home Thursday, when they found a dead dog on the front porch, authorities said. The dog likely died of parvovirus, and Animal Services seized another sick dog from the home, authorities said.

A search warrant was executed Friday, and 12 dogs and two bearded dragons were seized from the home.

Authorities said the home was in "extreme filth and disarray, with trash, feces and urine throughout the home."

Dogs were found in cages two to a cage without water as the home did not have running water, authorities said.

"The rescued animals are currently receiving medical treatment and care at the Forsyth County Pet Resource Center (formerly the Animal Shelter)," authorities said in the release.

Detectives were notified Tuesday that Emily Wilgus, 28, had adopted a puppy over the weekend via Facebook while Sheyann Edwards, 22, adopted another dog through Facebook, authorities said.

"These individuals and the other residents in the home had been warned several times of the dangers of parvovirus, however, continue to bring animals into the home. Knowing parvovirus to be dangerously contagious, the residents of the household maliciously and with intent, failed to provide sanitary conditions and medical treatment to the animals living within the residence to the extent it resulted in the death of five animals," authorities said in the release.

Warrants were obtained to charge the following suspects:

• Wilgus, on suspicion of three counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and two counts of cruelty to animals
• Edwards, on suspicion of aggravated cruelty to animals and four counts of cruelty to animals
• Lashia Samples, 28, on suspicion of five counts cruelty to animals
• Hannah Glenn, 24, on suspicion of four counts of cruelty to animals
• Jonathan Jagneaux, 34, on suspicion of cruelty to animals
• Kiara Wallis, 18, on suspicion of two counts of cruelty to animals

The six residents were taken to the Forsyth County Jail, and Animal Services seized the two puppies that were adopted during the weekend along with a cat, authorities said.

“The Animal Services team worked quickly to respond to the alleged case and partnered with the sheriff's office for the investigation as quickly as possible once the severity of the situation was apparent,” Forsyth County Community and Animal Safety Director Jerry Ramos said in the release.

“We feel that the reason we were able to rescue as many animals as we did was because of the great partnership between Animal Services, the Pet Resource Center and the sheriff’s office.”