Hoarding 3 dogs, child neglect Gibsonton, FL (US) Incident Date: Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 County: Hillsborough Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Alleged: Timothy McCollim

Case ID: 7015 Classification: Hoarding Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in FL (US) Child or elder neglect Login to Watch this Case

What started out as an animal abuse call has turned into a much larger investigation. Over the Jan 21 weekend, Animal Control officers were called to a home on Bacall Lane in Gibsonton. There, they say, they found much more than they expected.

"When you see situations like this, it just amazes me that anybody lived there," Kenneth Vetzel observed.

When Vetzel showed up at the mobile home to follow up on an animal cruelty call, he found two pups tied up with no water, and another dog inside.

"Hips, rib, tailbone -- all visible," he recalled.

That dog is now at Animal Services, a pile of bones lucky to be alive. But even more disturbing, Vetzel said, was the 10-year-old child inside the home.

"The fecal matter in the home on the floor, on the furniture, throughout the home, was unavoidable, if that paints a picture for you. There was nowhere in the home where there wasn't fecal matter," he continued.

According to the arrest report, Timothy M. McCollim, 51, had three dogs chained so tightly to his carport at 11312 Bacall Lane that they could not move and were living in their own feces. Another dog, found inside the house, was so emaciated its ribs, spine and hip bones were prominently showing. Feces was scattered throughout the house, which had no running water or electricity, and there was no edible food in the house, a deputy wrote in McCollim's arrest affidavit.

There was also no electricity, no running water, and no food.

"Child abuse, animal abuse -- it all runs hand-in-hand," Vetzel added.

Timothy McCollim, 51, was arrested charged with animal cruelty on Jan 22, but according to the sheriff's office, he'll likely be charged with child neglect and abuse as well. 

The child's mother will also face charges.

The Department of Children and Families, meanwhile, is now getting involved in the case.

McCollim remained at Orient Road Jail Monday night, held on four counts of improper confinement of animals, felony animal cruelty and child neglect. His bail was $6,000.

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