DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. – Broward Sheriff Office detectives arrested a woman Friday that is facing multiple charges after having dozens of cats and dogs living in filthy conditions in her Deerfield Beach home, authorities said.
Deputies said Laura Marcela Child, 53, is facing 42 counts of unlawful confinement or abandonment of animals, as well as animal cruelty charges.
According to an arrest report, deputies who responded to her home found multiple animal cages, some stacked two-cages high, full of 33 cats and two dogs.
Authorities said some cages were packed with as many as four cats, including some with injuries, small abrasions and missing patches of hair.
The arrest report also stated that Child failed to supply the animals confined in her home with a sufficient amount of food and water.
Deputies said another five dogs were found roaming freely in a gated-off room that was “filled with animal feces and trash,” the report said.
Emily Wood, Director of Broward County Animal Care, told Local 10 News that a total of 53 animals were taken from Child’s home and are working to find them all a home.
After receiving complaints from neighbors about the smell Wood said animal control had to step in.
There was a lot of old food and debris and bugs that come along with that,” she said. We sort of arranged with her to take 10 or so at a time, but it wasn’t long before she got a little bit more protective and didn’t allow us to help.
Deputies then showed up Friday conducting a welfare check that wasn’t even related to the animals and saw what conditions they were living in.
“Most of the residence’s interior was coated with animal fecal matter, urine, refuse, and other filth which created an environment unfit for human and-or animal habitation,” the report said. “The residence stunk of ammonia due to the buildup of cat urine and there were cockroaches and flies seen in and around the various piles of excrement.”
Local 10 News reporter Andrew Perez obtained an image of one of the dogs having matted fur that was caked with filth.
Child’s attorney said all is not what it seems.
“This is someone trying her best to help these animals, never laying a finger on one of these animals,” he said. “There were some upper respiratory concerns with some and issues with the elderly dogs including one that has cancer.”
Local 10 News spoke with Child on the phone who said she wants to clear her name moving forward and did the best she could with these pets.
“Most of them were very well-socialized so she was interacting with them. It’s just sad to know that love isn’t always enough. You need resources and we’re here for that,” said Wood.
For more information on adopting one of these pets, please click here.