2 dogs, 3 cats, 1 rat, 1 bird abandoned Edgewater, FL (US) Incident Date: Monday, Dec 19, 2005 County: Volusia Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Alleged: » Bruce V Russell » Jennifer L Russell

Case ID: 6676 Classification: Neglect / Abandonment Animal: cat, dog (non pit-bull), bird (pet), rodent/small mammal (pet) View more cases in FL (US) Login to Watch this Case

An Edgewater couple may lose their animals as well as face criminal charges after officials seized two dogs, three cats, a bird and a rat from their Florida Shores home. On December 19, 2005, Edgewater Animal Services administrator Amy Wade-Carotenuto said she and police responded to the Willow Oak Drive residence of Bruce and Jennifer Russell.

"The owners were nowhere to be found," she said. However, an older female German shepherd, a younger male mix-breed dog, three young cats, a parakeet and a rat were inside. "Officers were looking in the windows and verified the animals," Wade-Carotenuto said. "They were malnourished and there was feces all over the place." She said the animals had broken into whatever they could to get food, including items they would not normally eat, such as a box of dry spaghetti. "The rat had eaten the blinds (adjacent to its cage)," Wade-Carotenuto said.

A neighbor, who asked not to be identified, said no one had been living in the house for the past several weeks. However, she occasionally would see someone going in and out of the residence and assumed they were feeding the animals. When no one came by for more than a week, she called police. Wade-Carotenuto said from the looks of the house and the animals, they had been neglected for quite a while before being abandoned. "The shepherd was in obvious need of care," she said. Its rib cage was showing through its sides, much of its hair was missing, and her backside was covered in sores.

Wade-Carotenuto said she is caring for the pets at the city's animal control office, while she prepares to file court documents seeking permanent custody. If granted, the animals then could be put up for adoption. She said she also anticipates police will file criminal charges against the owners. Edgewater Police Chief Mike Ignasiak said his office has submitted paperwork with the State Attorney's Office seeking seven counts of animal cruelty.

No one answered the door at the Russell residence and the telephone has been disconnected.

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References

News Journal - December 21, 2005

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