POLK COUNTY, Fla. – Dozens of animals were seized from a home in Polk County on Thursday in an “animal neglect hoarder case,” according to the sheriff’s office.
In a release, deputies said that they responded to the home along Pope Lane as part of a well-being check on an elderly woman living there.
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Upon arrival, deputies began smelling ammonia from inside the home, and after entering, they found feces throughout the house with 35 cats inside, the release shows.
As a result, animal cruelty investigators were called to the home, deputies added.
Detectives said that they were later able to make contact with the suspect, Sharon Cochran, 57.
“The floor was covered with feces, the air was very difficult to breathe, and multiple cats were running throughout the residence,” the release reads. “Piles of trash and garbage were located throughout the residence, and several cats appeared to be underweight and in need of proper care.”
Cat feces and roaches were found in every room of the home, no litter boxes were found, and the air conditioning wasn’t operational, deputies said.
According to investigators, one dog was also found in the home’s bedroom, which was “also breathing the poor-quality air.”
Polk County Fire Rescue took a reading for ammonia in the home, coming up with 15 ppm on an ammonia meter, investigators explained. The figure for normal breathing air is 0 ppm.
Cochran was the sole caregiver of an 82-year-old woman with limited mobility, according to the release. That woman has since been relocated to family members, deputies said.
Cochran was taken into custody, facing charges of elder neglect and 36 counts of animal neglect.
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