Florida woman arrested after officials found 28 live animals and 5 dead cats in her home – NBC 6 South Florida

A Florida woman is facing more than 30 charges after authorities found 28 live animals and five dead cats in her Lakeland home.

According to NBC6 affiliate WFLA, which first reported this story, Polk County deputies arrested Catherine Briley after finding five dead cats in a room that was locked without food or water, as well as 27 cats and a dog that could not walk.

Briley’s neighbor, Elizabeth Trinidad, told WFLA that her family couldn’t bear to be outside their home because of the smell.

“I don’t understand why people live while the animals in their homes die,” Trinidad said.

Photos from inside Briley’s home showed an enormous amount of clutter with litter boxes on top of a bed and barely room to walk.

“It was just a horrible mess and it was impacting the environment and affecting the neighbors,” said Carrie Horstman with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

According to WFLA, officers took Briley into custody on charges of animal cruelty and operating an illegal dump.

She faces 30 first-degree felonies, one second-degree felony and five third-degree felonies.

A judge reportedly set bail at more than $55,000 and now Polk County Animal Control must deal with an influx of sick animals.

WFLA reports this is the third case of animal hoarding since December 2023.

“Not only are they in poor physical shape because they have breathing problems, they all need to be neutered and spayed,” Horstman says. “They all have to get their vaccinations, so that will take several months.”