The Ocala, Florida police joined forces with Marion County Animal Services, Florida Department of Children and Families and the Ocala Code Enforcement department to remove 56 dogs and a three-year-old toddler living in “deplorable” and unsanitary conditions in a home located on Northeast 12th Avenue. The dogs were covered in their own excrement; some were emaciated and completely matted.
According to the Facebook page for the Ocala Police Department, the three-year-old child as well as a man and a woman were removed from the stench filled and filthy home on Thursday. The previous day officers had been called to the home after numerous reports of a stench emanating from the back of the brick home. At the door, a woman told authorities, there were 15 dogs in the home, but they were going to be relocated to a kennel. She also indicated she had been caring for her elderly father who suffered from dementia.
Later that afternoon, code enforcement officers arrived and spotted fresh urine underneath one of the front doors. A vehicle with no license plates sat in the yard which is a violation of the city code. After hearing dogs barking, Animal Services were notified. Officers were granted permission by the woman at the door to enter the home and determined the conditions were unsafe for the child as well as the animals.
On the organization’s Facebook page, the following update to the disturbing discovery was posted:
“EMS responded to check on the elderly man living in the home and he has been medically cleared. The child has been placed safely in the care of a relative.
The dogs have been brought back to the Animal Center, where they will receive health assessments from a veterinarian. Marion County plans to move forward with a petition for custody and the dogs will not be eligible for adoption until legal custody has been approved by the court.”
Marion County Animal Services has reached out to the public for help with these dogs, and are grateful for all the people who have stepped up offering to adopt the dogs, however the dogs must go through the legal process first. Want to help?
“The dogs will be with us at Marion County Animal Services, under our veterinarian’s care, until further notice.
Some have asked what they can do to help our shelter. We would welcome some small (launderable) dogs beds. We also have online donation options. Now is also a good time to sign up to be a foster family, a volunteer, apply for employment, and to adopt! It is Adopt-a-Dog month and we’ve reduced our adoption fees by half through October.
Click here to see how you can help-http://www.marioncountyfl.org/departments-agencies/departments-a-n/animal-services/how-can-i-help.”
Follow the National Pet Rescue on Facebook.
(Photos and video via Marion County Animal Services the Ocala Police Department)
Video:
https://www.facebook.com/OcalaPoliceDepartment/videos/1829384117073251/
It’s mind boggling that anyone could live in this kind of filth! How do they stand it? I hope these poor dogs find loving homes and I think a mental evaluation is in order for this woman!
Good save but we wonder what happens to the dogs now? Cleaned? fed? vetted? Soon Up for adoption? People taken care now and hopefully the child is in good hands. Did the dogs go to a kill shelter? Can they be fostered?
Omg! Shame on that woman. I too hope all the dogs find loving homes.
WTH!!! I don’t even know what to say about this! SMH
Wow!!! is all I can say!!!! I am happy the father is being cared for ….. and these little dogs will get some help, vaccinations, proper hygiene , and nutrition…. hope the child is medially OK!!
I bet there were numerous complaints before any authority stepped up – this woman needs more than a mental eval – she deserves to be hogtied and dumped in the everglades – no sympathy there – she allowed this to go on and put a child and an elderly man in dire straits because of her neglect, not to mention these poor helpless animals.
I hate that all of these poor dog’s future gets tied up with the red tape of the court case. So unfair and they have already a horrible start in life. Does anyone think of the animals lives? Prayers to them and throw the book at those filthy abusers. How dare them let these animals suffer like this. They are pretty gross to live like that as well. YUCK
I do not understand. People “claim” they love animals and hoard them…if you can not take are of them, feed them properly and give them exercise YOU DO NOT LOVE THEM…..
Thank you so much for rescuing these precious little tortured souls!