DUCKTOWN — Cherokee County has seized more than 350 dogs found in what officials described as deplorable conditions.

A spokeswoman for the marshal's office, Alexa Huston, said 357 dogs were removed this week from a property on Hwy. 20, not far from the Forsyth County line.

Huston said the dogs were housed in unsanitary cages.

According to Atlanta news reports, investigators were first called to the property after a dog purchased from a breeder died.

The animals have been taken to the Cherokee County Animal Shelter.