SUMMERFIELD, FL (352today.com) – WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES OF THE CONDITIONS IN THE HOME BELOW. On Aug. 18, Marion County deputies arrested a Summerfield woman on seven counts of animal cruelty, including two felonies, after investigating a dead dog on the property.
The initial investigation took place on July 24, when a Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputy and a Marion County Animal Services (MCAS) investigator visited the residence of Heather Hays in the 14000 block of Southeast 91st Terrace. There, they reportedly discovered a deceased dog inside “a Rubbermaid type tote.”
When questioned about the dog, the defendant reportedly claimed it had been killed by a car on the previous Saturday, July 22, and she had not yet been able to bury it due to rainy weather.
Investigators requested to do a wellness check on the other dogs. The report says Hays refused and told investigators they would have to get a warrant. The investigators obtained a warrant to search the property and examine the conditions of the other dogs in the home. The report says Hays was not home when they returned. She had checked herself into an emergency room in Summerfield prior to their arrival. According to police records, they discovered the residence was covered in dog feces, urine and mold. The report says feces and urine covered the entire floor of the home, covered the walls at least five feet in height and was on the top of the couch and on Hays’ bed.
The seven dogs in the home were immediately removed, according to the arrest report. Deputies also say they did not find any food or water for the dogs except for one “partial bag of dog food.”
During a visit to the Summerfield emergency room, Hays reportedly also told deputies none of the dogs had been taken to the vet because she couldn’t afford it.
According to the report, she also told deputies she had lied about the dog’s death, and that it had actually died after being attacked by her other dogs. She allegedly kept the deceased dog in the home for about a week before moving it outside.
A staff veterinarian from MCAS evaluated the rescued dogs. The vet said all seven dogs had fleas and severely matted fur with feces in it. Some also had progressive skin and ear infections, especially two dogs Sonny and Macy, who seemed to be suffering the most, according to the report.
The dogs also reportedly had an “alarming” number of internal parasites, including coccidia, roundworms, hookworms and whipworms. These parasites can be transmitted to humans. They may have also contributed to the extreme weight differences between the dogs, said MCAS medical officials. The report says Sonny, a tan and white male Lab mix was overweight. And, Macy, an apricot female Lab/Poodle mix was severely emaciated with ribs and bones visible.
Sonny and Macy’s conditions resulted in two felony charges (aggravated animal cruelty) for Hays on top of five other animal cruelty charges.
The other dogs are described as:
- Cora – a black and white female Lab mix
- Buddy – a gold-colored male Lab/Poodle mix
- Thunder – a brown and white male Lab mix
- Austin – a brown and white male mixed breed
- Loretta – a brown brindle/white female mixed breed
Hays’ bond was set at $9,000. She is scheduled to be in court for an arraignment in Marion County Court on Sept. 19 at 9 a.m.
The Marion County Board of Commissioners runs a registry of established animal abusers in the county. The Civil Enjoinment List also shows a full list of Marion County residents prohibited from owning animals. The registries can be reviewed at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) of Ocala website.