Hoarding - 92 animals seized, 16 more dead
Gainesville, FL (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Jun 3, 2009
County: Alachua
Disposition: Not Charged
Person of Interest: woman
Animal control officers seized more than 90 animals Wednesday from the home of a Gainesville woman who apparently had been hoarding the pets.
The animals, most small dogs, were discovered at the home on the 400 block of NW 31st Lane when a search warrant was served at the residence.
Investigators found 92 live animals at the single-story home, including dogs, cats, a bird and a turtle, according to county's Animals Services Division. They also located 16 dead animals, most of them dogs.
Officials had been attempting to work with the woman regarding the care of her animals for at least a year, but the situation had reached a point where she refused to cooperate with them, said David Flagler, the agency's director.
When officers arrived at the home, they discovered almost twice as many animals as they had expected. Most of the animals appeared underweight. Some were emaciated.
The Alachua County Sheriff's Office assisted in serving the warrant. Deputies reported that a foul odor was coming from inside the home and that a container at the residence held the bodies of some of the dead animals.
Flagler said the live animals had been brought to the shelter where they would be cared for and evaluated. The animals' future would depend on the outcome of the ongoing investigation as well as their condition.
State Attorney Bill Cervone said the woman, who officers reported was in her 80s, would be undergoing a mental health evaluation. Based on the situation, he said it was unlikely that prosecutors would pursue any charges and that his office would be looking at "other solutions" for dealing with the situation. References |
