Humane Society finds nearly a dozen animals dead in Soddy-Daisy home

Several animals were found infested with fleas and parasites


              A rescued dog peers from within a kennel where hundreds of rescued animals are being kept for treatment about an hour southwest of Raleigh, N.C., Friday, Jan. 29, 2016. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals rescued over 600 animals after they were found in conditions that the sheriff called "awful and very sad." (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
A rescued dog peers from within a kennel where hundreds of rescued animals are being kept for treatment about an hour southwest of Raleigh, N.C., Friday, Jan. 29, 2016. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals rescued over 600 animals after they were found in conditions that the sheriff called "awful and very sad." (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

The Humane Educational Society of Chattanooga on Monday removed several animals from a Soddy-Daisy home after finding nearly a dozen others dead in two different freezers.

HES got involved with the case after local TV stations went out to the residence Saturday evening to do a welfare check on the children in the home. The home was in poor condition and the children were removed Saturday.

The 11 dead animals included five parakeets, two dogs, two turtles, one cat and one rabbit. It appeared the animals starved to death, according to HES Executive Director Bob Citrullo.

Citrullo said they were initially looking at neglect charges for the couple who ran the home, but based on the conditions the animals were found, they are going for animal cruelty, which is a felony.

HES went out to the home Monday and found several dead animals and a number of other animals in poor health. Ten animals were removed: four dogs, three cats, one rabbit, a python and a bearded dragon.

The animals were malnourished and infested with fleas and parasites, and their teeth were bad.

One of the animals, a puppy named Lizzy, is in critical condition after receiving a blood transfusion because of fluid building up in her lungs. Citrullo said Lizzy isn't out of the woods yet.

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