Two Homosassa women charged with animal cruelty and child neglelct; please volunteer to adopt or foster a pet
Inside the residence, officers discovered 21 dogs, 27 cats, 6 various species of birds, 5 rabbits, 1 turtle, and 1 chicken. Livestock, found outside, were also seized.
Four dogs were caged in the kitchen, lying in their own excrement. Nine dogs found inside the dining room were in the same condition. One dog, found in the master bathroom, was soaked in urine and so severely malnourished he was unable to stand and in such poor condition due to neglect, he had to be euthanized.
The remainder of the animals were located throughout the rest of the residence. Most of the animals had multiple open sores to their bodies, legs, and feet.
During this investigation, officials discovered a juvenile who who was living in the same deplorable conditions as the animals.
"There are basic standards of humane care for both people and animals," said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast. "These two individuals not only allowed eighty-four animals to suffer in this hazardous and unsanitary environment, but they even exposed a juvenile child to these unlivable conditions."
In total, 84 animals were seized and turned over to the county. Two women, 51 year-old Tabitha Kaye Iverson and 42 year-old Christine Anne Iverson, were each charged with 61 counts of aggravated animal cruelty, 13 counts of animal cruelty, and 1 count of child neglect, with their bonds set at $137,000 each.
The staff at Citrus County Animal Services and Animal Shelter worked with the animal control officers to safely recover these animals, and will work to give them a new life in a loving, forever home.
Prior to this case, the Citrus County Animal Shelter was already operating over capacity, and thus are in urgent need of adopters, fosters, and rescues to reduce the existing population and make room for this new group of animals.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
For additional information, to adopt a pet or to volunteer to be a pet foster parent, please call the animal shelter at (352) 746-8400, or email colleen.yarbrough@citrusbocc.com.