Description
Editor's note: The details and photos in this report may be upsetting.
A Lakeland woman is facing more than 30 counts of animal cruelty after close to 30 cats and a dog were found in "unlivable" conditions, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.
The investigation began on Wednesday at a home on Hedge Drive North off Stokes Road in Lakeland. Deputies say they were called to the house after getting a complaint about possibly neglected cats and hoarding.
When deputies arrived, they said they immediately got a strong ammonia odor coming from inside the home when they met with the homeowner, 66-year-old Catherine Briley.
Briley, who lives alone, reportedly told deputies she had about 16 cats and one dog inside the home with her. Detectives, equipped with respirator masks due to reported "toxic" ammonia levels, went into the home and said they found between 20-25 cats roaming around. Several of the cats were coughing and had green discharge coming from their nose, the release said.
A dog was also found in the home and detectives said it had trouble walking and standing and had "grossly" overgrown toenails that had curled. The dog was also missing a lot of fur and appeared to have a skin condition.
MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/polkcounty/lakeland-animal-cruelty-arrest/67-4313e7cd-a1ad-41d9-ac94-5b83877c8827
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