TIGER, Ga. (AP) — An animal shelter in northeast Georgia has been accused of charging people money to spare dogs and cats from being euthanized, then killing those animals anyway.

WAGA-TV reports that the Boggs Mountain Humane Shelter in Tiger offered a "Lucky Dog and Kitten Program." By paying a fee, people giving up pets thought they were guaranteeing their animals would not be killed and covering their adoption costs for the next owner.

But former shelter employee Lynne Cousins said some of those animals were euthanized. Cousins said the shelter sent letters and emails to people claiming euthanized pets had been adopted. Cousins said she was asked to resign after contacting the TV station.

Chief Investigator Gerald Johnson of the Rabun County Sheriff's office said his department is investigating.