Several of the animals appeared unclean and malnourished, police said
By CHRIS PYBURN
A 33-year-old woman in Virginia has been charged with animal cruelty and being an unfit animal owner after police spent nearly 12 hours removing dirty and underfed animals from her home.
After neighbors' complaints of foul odors coming from Megan Barber's home in Mount Vernon, Fairfax County police officers got a search warrant and went in, protecting themselves with hazmat suits and self-contained breathing gear.
Over two dozen live cats, five dogs, a rabbit, three guinea pigs, a hamster and nine birds were removed from the home on Ramsgate Terrace, amidst cluttered conditions including animal feces and debris, police said.
They also took 28 dead animals out of the house.
According to county officials, the live animals' medical conditions ranged from poor to good, with most appearing unclean and malnourished.
Sources told News4 that Barber had come to the attention of police for a similar situation five years ago...." More
Dec 30, 2009: Over 50 animals removed from home in animal hoaridng incident
A woman has been charged with animal cruelty after police removed dozens of dead and living animals from her home Tuesday.
Police removed more than 50 animals - nearly half of them dead - from the home of 33-year-old Megan Barber on Ramsgate Terrace in Mount Vernon after neighbors called local authorities complaining about an odor coming from the house.
Twenty-eight dead animals were removed from the house. Over two dozen living cats, nine birds, five dogs, three guinea pigs, a hamster, and a rabbit were removed from a house police say was filled with debris, including animal feces.
Police say the conditions of the living animals ranged from poor to good, with most appearing unclean and malnourished. They were transported to local veterinarians after being removed from the home.
Barber will not be able to return to her home immediately as the house has been condemned..." More
