UPDATE: Monroe County animal control officer charged with felony animal cruelty

Investigators said they received a complaint on July 6 about an incident that occurred at the shelter.

UPDATE (7/14/26): People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) says it sent a letter  to Towaliga Judicial Circuit District Attorney Dorothy Hull urging her office to prosecute Carlos Santillan “to the fullest extent of the law.”

UPDATE: Four puppies were killed and incinerated at the Monroe County Animal Shelter, leading to felony charges for a county animal control officer, according to Sheriff Brad Freeman.

ORIGINAL STORY:

MONROE COUNTY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A Monroe County animal control officer has been arrested on four felony animal cruelty charges following an investigation into an incident at the Monroe County Animal Shelter, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators said they received a complaint on July 6 about an incident that occurred at the shelter.

Following the investigation, investigators arrested Carlos Santillan and charged him with four counts of felony cruelty to animals. The charges stem from an incident that occurred at the Monroe County Animal Shelter on June 18.

Santillan is being held at the Monroe County Jail. A Monroe County Magistrate Court judge set his bond at $5,000.

The Monroe County Board of Commissioners has terminated Santillan’s employment, effective immediately.

The investigation remains ongoing.