East Coast Animal Hospital team holds dogs that were among the 51 recovered from a Palm Coast residence. From left: Heather (volunteer), Dr. Michael Tajmir, Linda, Angela, Cat and Laura. Photo by Brent Woronoff
SMART founder and director Caroline Johnson holds a dog, recovered from a Palm Coast residence, at East Coast Animal Hospital. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Dr. Michael Tajmir of East Coast Animal Hospital holds a handful of puppies from a recent litter that were among the neglected dogs recovered from a Palm Coast residence. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Dogs at East Coast Animal Hospital that were abandoned or removed from a Palm coast residence. Photo by Brent Woronoff
A dog and puppies at East Coast Animal Hospital that were abandoned or removed from a Palm coast residence. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Dogs at East Coast Animal Hospital that were abandoned or removed from a Palm coast residence. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Tips to Saving Missing Animals Response Team (SMART) of Flagler County helped lead to the arrest of a Palm Coast woman on animal cruelty charges and neglect and resulted in the removal of 51 dogs from a residence on Rymshaw Drive.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office arrested the woman on one count of felony aggravated animal cruelty and 31 counts of misdemeanor cruelty to animals. The women was transported to the Flagler County jail, where she is being held on a $41,000 bond, the FCSO said in a news release.
The arrest followed an FCSO and St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office investigation into the abandonment of about 23 small dogs on the night of May 4 near the intersection of U.S. 1 and County Road 204 in St. Johns County.
SMART volunteers helped recover the dogs on May 4. Three dogs were struck by cars and killed, said Caroline Johnson, the nonprofit’s founder.
Sixty-seven dogs that were both recovered on May 4 and rescued from the Palm Coast home are under SMART’s care, Johnson said. Palm Coast Animal Control transported the dogs to the East Coast Animal Hospital for evaluation and treatment.
SMART offered a $5,000 reward from its donation money for tips that lead to an arrest and conviction. Three tips led the same house, Johnson said.
On May 18, deputies with the FCSO Agricultural/Ranch Unit and Palm Coast Animal Control went to the residence where the woman surrendered 48 small dogs, primarily Chihuahua, beagle and Yorkie mixes and included 16 puppies from a recent litter. Many of the dogs showed visible signs of neglect, including patches of missing fur that are consistent with mange, fleas, severely overgrown nails, and feces and urine matted in their paws, the FCSO said in the news release.
During a consensual search of a shed on the property, deputies found three more dogs, including a 1-year-old male Chihuahua weighing about 1.5 pounds that was emaciated, missing a large amount of fur and had a serious medical condition that required surgery. The woman acknowledged she had been aware of the dog’s condition for about a month but had not sought veterinary care, the FCSO release said.
“She voluntarily surrendered the three remaining dogs to Palm Coast Animal Control and then withdrew her consent to search the home,” the release said. Deputies obtained a search warrant the same evening. Investigators documented additional evidence inside the home of prolonged neglect.
Most of the dogs under SMART’s care have been fostered, Johnson said. She said the dogs are mostly Chihuahua mixes from 1 pound to 10 pounds.
“It looks like all cross breeding, like a hoarding situation,” she said.
SMART will be responsible for the full cost of treatment, including exams, vaccines, parasite treatment, IV fluids, spay/neuter surgeries and ongoing rehabilitation, she said. Johnson thanked East Coast Animal Hospital staff for their care and treatment of every rescued dog that was brought to the facility.
Our vet care with 67 dogs is going to be astronomical. Our ability to save these dogs depends entirely on the community showing up — donations, supplies and volunteers.
— Caroline Johnson, SMART founder
“Our vet care with 67 dogs is going to be astronomical,” Johnson said. “Our ability to save these dogs depends entirely on the community showing up — donations, supplies and volunteers.”
Johnson said SMART is looking for adopters who are experienced with very skittish, nervous dogs like these. The dogs will not be ready for adoption until they have a clean bill of health.
On a positive note, Johnson said, Shelly, the injured pit bull puppy who was a victim of dog fighting, abandoned in a ditch in Shell Bluff Park and rescued by SMART volunteers on April 8, is doing well.
“She is a rock star,” Johnson said. “All of her facial wounds have healed. She has one wound in the crevice of an elbow that we have stapled and hasn’t healed 100%. But her spirit is high. She is affectionate with everybody and runs and plays all day. She was one that pulled our heart strings.”
Shelly remains at East Coast Animal Hospital and is ready for a permanent home now, Johnson said.
To donate to help pay for the care and treatment of the 67 dogs, go to https://donorbox.org/help-the-67-hoarder-case-babies.
If you'd like to adopt, foster or volunteer with SMART, go to https://smartflagler.com/.
