SEBRING, Fla. — Forty-six dogs and eight cats were rescued on Tuesday from a Sebring home that Highlands County deputies said was covered in animal feces and infested with roaches and rats.
Deputies initially went to the home, located off Broadland Lane in the Kissimmee River Estates neighborhood, for an eviction process. That's when they discovered the more than 50 animals inside of the single-wide mobile home, which the sheriff's office said could "only be described as deplorable."
A mother and son were arrested and are facing 56 counts of animal cruelty, the sheriff's office announced on Wednesday. They've been identified as 66-year-old Darlene Hutchinson and 36-year-old Arthur Doliver.
"The entire floor of the home was covered in animal feces and there were many crates, the bottoms of which were also covered with several inches of feces, stacked upon each other," the sheriff's office wrote in a press release. "The crates, which contained both dogs and cats, were all covered with cloth that prevented any free air flow."
The sheriff's office further explained that none of the water bowls in the crates had water. Instead, some were filled with urine.
Many dogs were said to have "visible flea infestations" while several had "noticeable hair loss." The fur of dogs with longer coats was "matted with dried feces." Deputies said they were told that the dogs who were confined in cages had never been let out.
“Treating even one animal like this is inexcusable, but having more than 50 of them living in this kind of condition is just mind boggling,” Sheriff Paul Blackman said in a statement. “There is no reason anyone can give that would justify animals being kept in this kind of situation."
The entire rescue operation took several hours, and all animals were taken to the Humane Society of Highlands County, where they will receive veterinary care. If you're interested in assisting the Humane Society, you're urged to contact 863-655-1522.
