At least 20 mistreated and matted Border Collies were rescued from a Florida hellhole house that was filled with “feces over every square inch,” disgusted officials said Monday.
Former American Kennel Club breeder and alleged hoarder Paige O’Donnell, 62, was taken into custody when sheriff deputies raided her home in Palm City on Monday, Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said.
Officers wearing hazmat suits rescued the animals after O’Donnell was placed under surveillance by animal services detectives following complaints from neighbors –– and authorities fear they will find dead animals at the property, too.
“Quite frankly, some of these dogs are almost unrecognizable as they pull them out,” Budensiek told reporters Monday afternoon.
“That’s how poorly they are groomed. These are beautiful dogs, naturally, and now with the matted hair and the poor condition they’re in, it’s pretty tough to see.
“The house is so deteriorated that about a foot and a half of drywall’s gone, the furniture is destroyed, and the animals are in a deplorable condition.”
By the time deputies got into the property Monday, they found “feces over every square inch in the house,” Budensiek added.
Harrowing footage released by the sheriff’s office showed the confused animals matted and completely covered in muck after deputies executed a search warrant at O’Donnell’s property.
Budensiek said the suspect had been on his office’s radar for some time but had built “robust” fencing to keep anyone from getting to her property.
She first came to the attention of the authorities in 2020 following allegations she may have been mistreating animals, the lawman said.
Animal control officers determined at the time that she was in the clear.
Budensiek said that O’Donnell has no previous criminal record but is known to have an issue with alcohol and was treated for alcohol abuse against her will at some point between 2020 and 2022.
He said that she then began to play “the legal game” and “learned how to wall us off” so that checks on the animals were no longer possible.
Last week she agreed to surrender one of the dogs, which despite showing signs of having been washed, appeared somewhat malnourished and did not seem to have been “properly cared for,” the sheriff said.
O’Donnell is expected to appear in court Tuesday on charges of felony animal cruelty in addition to misdemeanor improper confinement counts for every dog that is found at the property, the sheriff said.
She may face additional charges if dead animals are found at her home.
“Trust me when I tell you, we’re going to stack every single charge we can stack on her and give her the max penalty we can,” Sheriff Budensiek said.
“She is a calculated animal abuser, she’s not just some crazy lady who just happened to keep more dogs than she should have.”
It comes after 92 cats and dogs were rescued last month by Martin County deputies at another alleged animal hoarder’s home.
Former postal work Gail Giustino, 77, was hit with misdemeanor animal cruelty charges after 80 cats and 12 dogs were found living in horrific conditions in her home in Stuart, Florida.
With Post wires
The post At least 20 poop-covered Border Collies rescued from disgusting Florida home of ex-breeder appeared first on New York Post.
