CITRUS COUNTY, FL. – Shortly before 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Citrus County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Officers (ACO) responded to a residence off W Green Acres Street in Homosassa in reference to a report of animal cruelty.
After arriving on the scene, ACOs quickly realized that they would need the full cooperation and teamwork of both CCSO deputies and Citrus County Animal Services for this investigation.
Inside the residence, officials discovered twenty-one dogs, twenty-seven cats, six various species of birds, five rabbits, one turtle, and one chicken. Four of the dogs located were caged in the kitchen, laying in their own urine and feces inside a cage. Another nine dogs were discovered inside the dining room, in the same condition.
The remainder of the animals were located throughout the rest of the residence, including a dog in the master bathroom who was soaked in urine and so severely malnourished to the point it could not stand.
Unfortunately, this dog was in such poor physical condition due to the neglect, it had to be euthanized.
The majority of the other animals had multiple open sores on their bodies, legs, and feet. Additional livestock outside were also seized.
During this investigation, officials discovered a juvenile who is living in the same deplorable conditions.
“There are basic standards of humane care for both people and animals,” stated Sheriff Prendergast. “These two individuals not only allowed 84 animals to suffer in this hazardous and unsanitary environment, but they even exposed a juvenile child to these unlivable conditions.”
In total, 84 animals were seized and turned over to the county.
Both 51-year-old Tabitha Kaye Iverson and 42-year-old Christine Anne Iverson were charged with sixty-one counts of aggravated animal cruelty, thirteen counts of animal cruelty, and one count of child neglect.
Their bonds were set at$137,000.00 each.
“We want to thank the entire staff at Citrus County Animal Services and Animal Shelter for working with our ACOs in safely recovering these animals and helping give them a new life in a loving, forever home,” said Citrus County Sheriff’s Office.
The Citrus County Animal Shelter was operating over capacity prior to taking on this case. They are in urgent need of adopters, fosters, and rescues to reduce the existing population and make room for this new group of animals.
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I pray to God Almighty that the judge that hears these cases has a heart for animals and sentence these cruel sickos to the very maximum of anything he can charge them with concerning the case he hears.