In one of “the most horrific cases” Citrus County animal control officials have worked, two people have been charged with animal cruelty.
A Crime Stoppers tip led investigators to a home in the 3800 block of South Alpine Avenue in Inverness on Saturday, according to a Facebook post from the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office. That day, 36 dogs were seized — and every single one had some level of medical neglect.
“This tip ultimately turned out to be one of the most horrific cases we’ve worked,” animal control Supervisor Lora Peckham said in the post.
Two people, Ryan McLean and Deana Feldman, were arrested on one count of felony animal cruelty and 27 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty with total bond of $32,000 each, according to the post.
Peckham thanked those who responded to the scene and investigated the incident.
A battalion chief even took one dog that was in “very bad condition” to the vet for emergency care, according to the post.
The rest of the 35 dogs were taken from the shelter to the vet Sunday for medical examinations, flea medicine, X-rays, nail trimming — which officials said hadn’t been done for months to years — and grooming to remove feces-matted fur, according to the Facebook post.
“A few of the worst were even bathed by the vet techs at Countryside. Every single dog has some level of medical neglect that needs to be addressed and treated but we are hopeful that they will all survive,” Peckham said in the post.
Photos posted to the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page show dogs walking on floors covered in newspapers and feces.
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