PORT ST. JOHN, Fla. – A Central Florida woman has been charged after authorities say she kept her two children and 24 Chihuahuas in a home filled with dog feces, trash and bugs.
Officials said the Port St. John home had dried, caked feces and urine, roaches and trash inside it, describing that the environment was in "no way safe for the animals, let alone the children who also were in the residence."
Investigators said two children, who weren't enrolled in school, had dog feces "caked" to the bottom of their bare feet. The Department of Children and Families removed the children from the home.
Tamara Daniels, 52, faces charges of child neglect with great bodily harm.
The SPCA took 24 of the dogs into custody. Of the 24, four are pregnant and will be placed in foster care for two months to have their puppies and allow them to grow old enough to be adopted. The remaining 20 Chihuahuas will be available for adoption in two weeks, officials said.
The Chihuahuas have been nicknamed the "Chipolooza Crew," and have been described by the SPCA as "sweet and loving considering the conditions from which the came."
The SPCA is raising money to help care for the dogs, which will be given vet care, spayed/neutered, microchipped and fed.
A YouCaring page has been set up to accept donations for the Chihuahuas and donations can be mailed or brought to 6035 Sisson Road in Titusville.
It's not clear if the homeowners will face charges.