It had not been possible to walk through the house without trash, on animal excrement and urine. This is how Anthony Binz of the police in Edgewater, Florida describes it. A total of 245 animals were counted, including four dogs, 14 birds and 60 adult rats, including 23 babies.
Three children lived in this house at the age of eight, nine and ten years. The parents of the three girls as well as the father's friend lived there, according to a police statement. Sender CNN quotes the police as saying that it was the father himself who called the authorities to end the relationship with his wife and girlfriend and take the children with them. The mother did not want to allow this but according to his statements. He "believed that the house was uninhabitable for the children," police said.
During his five years as a police officer, "this was the worst home I ever went to in terms of the overwhelming odor of ammonia, the hoarding of animals, and the everyday conditions these three children suffered during their stay," a police officer wrote Binz.
The police did not report how long the children lived in these circumstances. The girls were taken out of the house and handed over to the care of a "responsible family member". The animals were reportedly taken to a shelter.
The three adults were charged with being charged with child abuse in three cases and animal cruelty in 66 cases.
