Dead dog in filthy home
Philadelphia, PA (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Jan 3, 2009
County: Philadelphia
Disposition: Not Charged
Person of Interest: woman
A home on the 6700 block of Marsden in the Tacony section of Philadelphia was condemned Saturday after officials found the place covered in feces as well as a dead dog, Fox 29's Julie Kim reported.
"The house is totally trashed, totally unfit for human habitation," said George Bengal, investigator for the Pennsylvania SPCA. "We received a call from a social worker at Frankford Hospital regarding an elderly woman. She was supposed to have numerous animals inside."
SPCA members entered the home and found a dead dog, one of the elderly woman's pets. They took into custody a live cat and believe there are remains of at least two other pets inside.
"There is no way a human being should be living here let alone animals," said Bengal. "None of the bathrooms worked. She didn't clean anything; there was no water in there, no toilet facilities."
The 75-year-old woman was taken to the hospital on New Year's Eve. Neighbor Nettie Cook says she had helped the woman several times in the past by getting groceries or taking her animals to the vet when they got sick.
"I had no idea she was living like that. She never let me into her house. If I had, I would have done something way before now," said Cook. "She should have let someone know she needed help but she's one of them people who don't ask for help."
Cook says the woman called her last Tuesday telling her that her dog had died. Cook says she offered to come in and help her take care of the body but was refused.
The SPCA says they see signs of animal cruelty but it's unknown whether they will file charges. Also, License and Inspection and the Health Department have condemned her home. References« PA State Animal Cruelty Map
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