Hernando deputies find animals in "deplorable conditions''

BROOKSVILLE - Hernando County deputies serving a warrant at a man's home on Thursday discovered 22 dogs, three cats and a Burmese python snake living in what they termed "deplorable conditions.''

The floors of the home at 24514 Audubon Drive were soaked in urine and covered in feces, authorities said. The snake had no water and many of the dogs had fleas and skin disorders. Three of the dogs were in cages and were groomed, as if ready for sale, according to the release.

Deputies arrested John Arthur Stansfield, 46, on charges of grand theft and dealing in stolen property. They have begun an animal cruelty investigation but no charges have been filed in that case.

"We only went there to serve the arrest warrants," Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Donna Black said. "And then we found all the animals and the deplorable conditions."

Debra Harmon, who lives at the home, said she owns all of the animals. Hernando County Animal Services  removed all the animals from the home, took them to a local veterinarian for evaluation and then transported them to the Animal Services office.

-- Joel Anderson, Times Staff Writer

Comments

[Barbara]

When are we going to wake up and make animal abuse a serious crime? You can send the snakes back where they came from. We sure don't need anymore loose down here.

Thats just your oppinion about the snakes, but I am all for the cracking down on animal abuse.

I am a former roommate of D. Harmon. FACT: all of the animals were well fed. FACT: Animal control has been out to the residence two times in the last two years, due to the old neighbor calling on her. Ms. Harmon received a clean bill of health, both times. FACT: Ms. Harmon has been paying one of her roommates (for the past 3 yrs) to clean up after the animals. Which he did up until the arrest. He assumed it was Ms. Harmon who called the sheriff and decided to let the house go without cleaning it. FACT: not 22 dogs. FACT: the animals were living in the house until her garage roof was put on. FACT: the dogs with the skin conditions were on three medications and a special shampoo. So, before you judge, think to yourself, when was the last time I gave my dog a bath. PS...D. Harmon probably saved your dogs life by taking it in when you decided you couldn't deal with your pet anymore and threw him/ her to curb. We need more kind hearted people like Ms. Harmon in this world. FACT!!!

strait up right

Well I think thats all made up but whatever

What about the snake it had NO WATER

[frank]

roommate, law enforcement never lies. do you?

[Mike]

I thought there was a law on how many dogs a person can have. I know the city I live in has an ordinance that says only 3 dogs per household.

[bill]

Well I think that’s all made up but whatever... Not made up, that's true that Ms Harmons' dogs are in good health. If you have a pet, how often do you fill its water dish? have you ever filled it when it was empty? If so, then your a person who treats their pets bad. No you say? Then why do you pass judgment on someone who does the same thing you do.

Ms Harmon was at work and was paying someone to maintain the animals when she has to work. He failed to do his job so she gets blamed and they take away her animals. Like I always say, if you want something done right, do it yourself. You’ll see, she will get all the pets back soon because they are healthy.

Is it a FACT that you would let your pets go to the bathroom all over your house and live in it? Get real. Stop protecting abusers of animals all of you!

[Bill]

People in Brooksville do. Even though she takes good care of her animals, they do make their droppings in the house. The guy who got arrested because he's a crackhead, failed to do the job he was paid to do, which was to clean up after ALL the pets, so the owner (Ms Harmon) who was at work at the time had her pets taken from her. We all have had some kind of problem that has fallen on our shoulders because someone else failed to take care of their problem.