A Lake Wales couple have been arrested, charged with 84 counts each of animal cruelty, Polk County Sheriff’s deputies said.
Buddy A. McCann, 33, and Kelly Elizabeth Ryan, 38, of Oleno Avenue, Lake Wales were arrested on Wednesday, after deputies removed 84 animals from their home.
Deputies responded to the couple’s home on Tuesday night, following complaints from neighbors regarding strong smells and many animals being kept at the house. Initially, no one answered the door when deputies arrived.
Deputies returned to the home around 10:30 p.m. last night, after neighbors alerted that the residents had showed up. They observed that the home had no electricity or running water and inside was a large amount of animals without food or water. Several of the dogs had matted hair and fleas and were in need of dental care, deputies said.
McCann and Ryan advised deputies that only one of the 47 dogs in the home had been seen by a vet in the past year.
Deputies obtained a search warrant for the home and Polk County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control deputies responded to the scene to remove the animals to be evaluated.
In all, 84 animals were seized:
47 dogs
20 cats
3 rabbits
3 ferrets
10 fish
1 frog
McCann and Ryan were placed under arrest and charged with 84 counts each of anumal cruelty. They were booked into the Polk County Jail on Wednesday.
