Case Details

Hoarding - 80 cats and 20 dogs
Hudson, FL (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Jan 24, 2006
County: Pasco
Local Map: available
Disposition: Not Charged

Persons of Interest:
» Eric Scott Steffey
» Susan M. Steffey

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Case ID: 7380
Classification: Hoarding
Animal: cat, dog (non pit-bull), horse, other farm animal
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Suspect was in animal welfare field
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Pasco County Animal Control officers found 80 cats and 20 dogs crammed into cages and crawling with parasites when they investigated a complaint of neglect at 12517 Kitten Trail in Jan 2006.

The animals were scrounging for food and drinking from algae-stained water bowls. Many were visibly ill.

However, officials are not pursuing criminal charges against the couple. Instead, they hope Eric Scott Steffey, 46, and Susan M. Steffey, 49, comply with laws, clean up the property and relinquish ownership of the pets. That does not preclude charges in the future.

"They could be charged, but I am not sure that is the best thing," Pasco County Animal Control Manager Denise Hilton said, noting that the couple have limited financial means.

The Steffeys are to appear in county civil court March 1 to defend a county petition to remove the dozens of cats and dogs remaining in their home. Investigators described the conditions as the worst they have seen. The couple have relinquished ownership of seven dogs, six of which were in need of emergency care. The seventh was described as aggressive. All of those dogs were euthanized.

It is unclear whether the other animals will be euthanized, Hilton said, but all appeared to be in need of expensive medical care, and many were not socialized. None was vaccinated or tested for heartworm, and only a few were spayed or neutered.

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office has closed an investigation of the treatment of the livestock on the property, finding no violations, sheriff's spokesman Doug Tobin said. Cpl. Robert Miller visited the property Jan. 24 and again Jan. 31 and found four horses, a mule and a donkey, all of which appeared to have ample, clean water and food. One horse showed signs of having too much protein, but the horse's condition was not serious.

"Sometimes the protein builds up and the hoof grows out if they do not have enough exercise," Tobin said. "That can be terribly painful for the horse, but this was nowhere near the point where it would go to animal abuse. If anything, the four horses were overweight."

Miller plans to return for periodic, random visits to ensure the health of the livestock. The visits are a precautionary measure because of the other neglect on the property, Tobin said.

Investigators visited the Steffeys' home Jan. 24 in response to a complaint. They described it as "filthy," rat-infested and covered with feces and garbage. About 20 hound-mix dogs were kept in outdoor pens with limited shelter. Food was thrown on the dirt floors, and the dogs did not have fresh water. Some of the dogs could not run freely. Several had tumors, oozing sores and mange, and were losing hair. One was bald. Another was pregnant. Another was unable to walk because of a swollen leg.

Susan Steffey told investigators a litter of puppies born in one of the pens recently died of canine parvovirus.

The cats were crammed into dog carriers, with six or eight per cage, and kept in a bedroom. Litter pans were filled, and water and food bowls were overturned.

When investigators returned for a follow-up visit Jan. 26, only about 12 or 15 cats were in the home, the court petition states. Susan Steffey said she had opened the windows and let the cats outside so she could clean. She also said she had given away 27 cats.

County officials were shocked by the conditions of the home and are trying to get help for the Steffeys. At the time animal control investigated, Eric Steffey had moved out of the house to a nonworking box truck on the property, according to the complaint.

The home had no working plumbing. There were large holes in the floor and portions were beginning to give way. A dresser was falling through the floor in one bedroom. The couple said they used a hose in their barn to shower and prepared food in a microwave, also in the barn.

The Steffeys told investigators they are dependent on church groups and others for food for themselves and the animals. They have no transportation and conceded that "for the moment," the living conditions were unsanitary, according to the complaint.

Eric Steffey told investigators he would like all the animals gone from the property except two dogs and asked the animal control officer to take as many dogs as he could.

The couple claimed they had a long-term relationship as volunteers with the Pet Aid Service Society Inc. and that they answered a "puppy/kitty hot line" on behalf of the nonprofit animal welfare organization, Assistant County Attorney Kristi Wooden said. They also claimed PASS has not provided necessary food and veterinary care vouchers to them.

PASS officials have told county attorneys they intend to issue the Steffeys a cease and desist letter concerning their claimed relationship with the organization, Wooden said.

The county also is asking to conduct regular, then periodic checks of the property and remove any animals housed there for at least the next year. If the Steffeys comply, they may seek to have the injunction removed. If they do not do so, the injunction will become permanent.

POSSIBLE VIOLATIONS OF COMMUNITY STANDARDS
According to a court petition, Eric and Susan Steffey violated several community standards for proper and reasonable care of animals at their home on Kitten Trail in Hudson. The violations include:

�Failure to obtain required rabies vaccinations.
�Failure to house the animals in an uncrowded, sanitary environment.
�Failure to provide mental stimulation and/or socialization for the animals.
�Failure to obtain necessary medical care for injuries and disease.
�Failure to provide basic care such as de-worming, de-fleaing and castration.
�Failure to provide clean water and food.

The Steffeys' property also is zoned for agricultural-residential use. Under county codes, a kennel is defined as "any building or land used for the boarding, breeding, housing, training, or care of more than nine dogs, cats, or other domestic animals kept for purposes of show, hunting, sale, or personal use." The couple do not have a permit to operate a kennel and therefore violate zoning requirements.

Case Updates

Pasco County Animal Control officers found 80 cats and 20 dogs crammed into cages and crawling with parasites when they investigated a complaint of neglect at 12517 Kitten Trail in January. The animals were scrounging for food and drinking from algae-stained water bowls. Many were visibly ill. Officials are not, however, pursuing criminal charges against the couple just yet. Instead, they hope Eric Scott Steffey, 46, and Susan M. Steffey, 49, comply with laws, clean up the property and relinquish ownership of the pets. That does not preclude charges. "They could be charged, but I am not sure that is the best thing," Pasco County Animal Control Manager Denise Hilton said, noting that the couple have limited financial means. The Steffeys are slated to appear in civil court March 1, 2006 to defend a county petition to remove the dozens of cats and dogs remaining in their home. Investigators described the conditions as the worst they have seen.

The couple have relinquished ownership of seven dogs, six of which were in need of emergency care. The seventh was described as aggressive. All those dogs were euthanized. The Pasco County Sheriff's Office has closed an investigation of the treatment of the livestock on the property, sheriff's spokesman Doug Tobin said. Cpl. Robert Miller visited the property on January 24 and again January 31 and found four horses, a mule and a donkey, all of which appeared to have ample clean water and food. One horse showed signs of having too much protein, but the horse's condition was not serious. The home had no working plumbing, and there were large holes in the floor. The couple said they use a hose in their barn to shower and prepare food in a microwave, also in the barn. The couple could not be reached for comment.
Source: TBO News - February 22, 2006
Update posted on Feb 26, 2006 - 12:02PM 
Eric and Sue Steffey share their dilapidated trailer on Kitten Trail with 13 dogs and as many as 80 cats. Their three horses and the donkey stay outside.

So why so many animals? The couple says that they're trying to save the critters' lives.

"This is dumping ground central up here, and I also had some animals that were rescues from Pet Aid Service Society," Sue Steffey explained.

The Steffeys wouldn't let new cameras inside their home, but they brought several animals out for us to see.

But Pasco County Animal Control says they have been inside and claims it found a rat-infested dump with animal droppings everywhere and cobwebs from floor to ceiling -- unfit for humans or animals.

"They might not be in the Taj Mahal, but they're taken care of," Eric Steffey said.

"My cats are well fed. My animals eat. They have food. They have water. They're not skin and bones. They're not neglected," Sue insisted.

Animal Control is going to court to remove the animals from the house. The Steffeys are fighting to keep the critters. Deputies said they found no sign of criminal animal neglect.

The Steffeys say they'd like nothing more than to live on their farm with three or four dogs and three or four cats -- and maybe the horses. But they don't want the other animals put down, and that's what they're fighting for.

"There's nothing wrong with them," Sue added. "They're good animals and there's no reason to kill them."
Source: ABC News - Feb 22, 2006
Update posted on Feb 22, 2006 - 6:33PM 

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References

TBO.Com
United Press International - Feb 21, 2006

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