Case Details

Hoarding - 49 cats, 15 dogs seized
Deltona, FL (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Sep 28, 2005
County: Volusia
Local Map: available
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 6 files available

Abuser/Suspect: Linda Castillo

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Case ID: 5605
Classification: Hoarding
Animal: cat, dog (non pit-bull)
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Suspect was in animal welfare field
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Forty-nine cats and 15 dogs are still at the Halifax Humane Society, one day after they were confiscated from a Deltona woman's home. Two of the confiscated dogs had to be put down because they were so sick.

Another dog was picked up by an owner who had left his dog with the accused woman, who claimed to be grooming animals. Most of the dogs should recover, but many of the cats won't make it.

Most of the animals are different creatures since they've been taken into custody. They are now alert, hungry, eating well and perhaps best of all, they're clean.

"It seemed like they were so relieved. It was the first time they probably had this clean, spacious feeling," said Michelle Pari, of the Halifax Humane Society.

The dogs are generally doing well, except for one who has a nasty skin condition he may not recover from.

Animal rescuers were stunned to find dozens of cats and dogs living in filth at a Deltona home on Sept 28.

"The odor was so bad on the outside of the house that you knew there was something tremendous on the inside," said Kathy Fisk, a Deltona enforcement officer.

Officials found sick animals starving for food and attention and cages covered with urine and feces. Linda Castillo was charged with animal cruelty, a third-degree felony, and confinement of animals without sufficient water, food or exercise, a first-degree misdemeanor, sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught said. She was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach.

City records show prior complaints about odors, rats and debris at Castillo's rented home.

Linda Overstreet said she has known Castillo for years. Castillo grooms Overstreet's dog, Sugarfoot. "She always appears to be so clean and so meticulous about the way she (grooms) the dogs. I'm just flabbergasted. I just couldn't believe it," Overstreet said.

The dozens of cats recovered are not healthy, according to reports. Half of them, 25 or more, will likely be put down.

One of the cats has no eyes. The vet thinks an upper-respiratory illness went untreated and it rotted her eyes. She will not make it.

The animals that are expected to recover will soon be available for adoption.

There have been similar complaints from neighbors in the past.

City officials said Castillo may have been a veterinarian tech, but Dr. Mark Sheffield said she worked as a groomer at AA Animal Clinic in DeBary a few years ago. He said that Deltona animal control officials spoke with him a few years ago regarding complaints about Castillo.

Case Updates

Neighbors and an animal control officer are wondering why a county judge allowed a woman to keep two dogs after 67 animals were found in her home last month, some soaked in urine and feces.

Linda Mae Castillo, 63, pleaded not guilty on Oct 26 to charges of animal cruelty and confinement of animals without sufficient water, food or exercise.

The felony and misdemeanor charges were filed against Castillo after Deltona Animal Control Officers removed 16 dogs, 45 cats and a ring-neck dove from her house at 767 W. Ninth Street on Sept. 28. All the animals were taken to Halifax Humane Society in Daytona Beach, but one dog died en route.

Most of the dogs, placed in the care of the humane society, appeared to be in decent condition but a couple had open sores, officials said. A majority of the cats had to be euthanized because of their poor condition.

In an Oct. 11 civil hearing, County Judge Shirley A. Green ordered the humane society to give back two Doberman pinschers to Castillo if she cleaned her home. Castillo was also ordered to pay the humane society $4,145.70 for the care of the 67 animals seized.

In her order, Green stated Castillo could have the dogs if the home passed a city inspection.

City officials had hoped Castillo would not be allowed to keep another animal. They fear that allowing Castillo to have the two dogs could lead to her hoarding animals again. Officials hope the court will finalize plans to authorize them to check the house frequently.

"It's not what the city wanted," Animal Control officer Richard Lovett said of the judge's order. "It was something that the judge decided."

Neighbors are also concerned. Many complained that a stench from animal feces and urine permeated the neighborhood.

"I think the court dropped the ball. She's (Castillo) got a good heart but something is not right with her," said neighbor Susan Patterson. "If she is an animal hoarder, a compulsive animal keeper, it is going to happen again."

Patterson said the court should get help for Castillo instead of putting her in a situation where animals might be harmed.

Castillo was not home Wednesday when The Daytona Beach News-Journal visited, although two Dobermans rushed and began barking and clawing at the windows. She also did not return requests for comments.

For now, neighbors hope the city will continue checking the home. They say they have seen what looked like rats coming from the home.

"I don't think she should have animals," neighbor Dan Bailey said.
Source: The Daytona Beach News-Journal - Oct 26, 2005
Update posted on Nov 11, 2005 - 10:58AM 

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References

WESH - Sept 29, 2005
Local 6 News - Sept 29, 2005
News Journal
News Journal
News Journal
Local 6 News - Sept 30, 2005
Daytona Beach News
Daytona Beach News

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