On Monday, deputies from the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department arrived at a home on Ovelle Lee Road in Poplarville and found more than 40 animals living in inadequate conditions.
Both of the residents, a 72-year-old female and a 58-year-old male were charged with simple animal cruelty, Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Shane Tucker said.
“Our department received an anonymous complaint about the conditions at the address,” Tucker said. “Investigators determined the conditions to be very poor not only for the animals but for the people living there.”
According to Tucker, investigators had to utilize protective gear on their shoes and don masks due to the fact that the floor of the house was covered in feces and urine. He added that there was a pungent ammonia smell in the house.
Officers also found there was not an adequate amount of food or water available for the animals, Tucker said, and most of the animals were in poor condition related to hygiene.
Altogether, authorities seized 40 dogs, one horse, 11 gerbils, two turtles and one rabbit, Tucker said.
The animals were turned over to the Southern Pines Animal Shelter in Hattiesburg, Tucker said.
“We want to thank the shelter for stepping up to take care of these animals,” Tucker said. “They did us and these animals a huge favor.”
Tucker said the woman voluntarily agreed to surrender all of her animals. In 2010, authorities previously seized animals from this woman at a different address.