CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – A 38-year-old woman turned herself into authorities three months after multiple dead animals were discovered at an abandoned and severely dilapidated home on Maluke Lane in Middleburg.
News4JAX is not identifying the woman because of questions about her mental status.
A neighbor described what she witnessed when she made a disturbing discovery. Brittany Storey told News4JAX that it all started when a malnourished German Shepherd without fur on its body kept coming from the abandoned home onto her property.
That’s when Storey followed it back to its home and then she made a gruesome discovery.
“There was [expletive] everywhere on the cages. I went into the house and there were cages up to the fridge, animal feces and stuff. Walking through the hallway, you had to walk on 2X4s because it was falling through the floor and there were cages everywhere,” Storey said.
Animal control and sheriff deputies were called to the home. Investigators said after they located the neglected German Shepherd, they found the skeletal remains of two dogs inside two metal cages. When they entered the home, they found the skeletal remains of a cat inside a metal cage and the remains of two lizards inside two glass aquariums.
Another neighbor who asked to remain anonymous said she knew the woman was rescuing various animals but never knew how bad it was inside until authorities arrived.
“I was surprised. I was like she was never like that because she helped me with my animals,” the neighbor said.
News4JAX counted over 10 animal cages on the property.
Jacksonville Sheriff Officer Jim Crosby offered some perspective on the findings.
“It’s very common to find exactly what you found in a case where somebody has way too many animals and is unable to keep up with them,” Crosby said.
Crosby said this appears to be a case where the woman may have started with good intentions of helping the animals, but it became too overwhelming. He says it’s a serious problem happening all over the nation, but no matter how it’s framed, it’s still animal abuse and neglect.
“I’d like to give kudos to animal services and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office for taking this seriously. Too often, departments and prosecutors blow these cases off,” Crosby said.
Crosby also gave kudos to the neighbor who didn’t turn a blind eye and called authorities to report what she found.
The woman is facing three felony counts of animal cruelty and a misdemeanor charge of animal abandonment.