VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Three of the dogs rescued during an animal cruelty investigation in Volusia County this week have been adopted by deputies, according to a news release.
On Monday, deputies responded to a home on East Beresford Avenue after a woman who came to the house to clean the pool reported a strong odor coming from the home, as well as emaciated dogs barking inside.
When deputies entered the home, they found malnourished animals living in filthy conditions in addition to a young basset hound, two cats, three geckos and two birds that were found dead.
Deputies praised Volusia County Animal Services for caring for the dogs during the investigation.
“Here we are less than 48 hours later and three of my deputies have adopted three of the dogs,” Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood.
The release announced the following adoptions:
- “Dutch is going home with Deputy Stubblefield”
- “Ariel gets a fresh start with Deputy Schramm”
- “Odie has a new home with Sgt. Pullin”
Deputy Kletus Stubblefield and his wife Adriana adopted Dutch.
“I brought him out of the house first and he’s been energetic and loving ever since,” Kletus Stubblefield said. “This is the first one I’ve personally seen where a dog wasn’t already gone. I actually saw the dog starving, the nature of how it’s living, so it hit a little bit more at the heart.”
Deputies announced that they arrested 37-year-old Ashley Taryn Boucher in the incident. She faces charges including 20 counts of aggravated animal cruelty and eight counts of confinement of animals without sufficient food, water, or exercise, records show.
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