Search of house finds 10 animals living in squalor
Animals from the house have been moved to Animal Charity.
YOUNGSTOWN — A 53-year-old East Philadelphia Avenue woman may face charges after police found her home in horrid condition with neglected animals roaming around inside.
Officers went to 253 E. Philadelphia on Wednesday with a search warrant for the house after the owner previously refused to allow officers in to conduct an interior inspection, after complaints about an odor emanating from inside.
The resident, Sandra Leonard, is now in Mahoning County Jail on a civil-contempt charge after refusing to allow officers to inspect the home on three occasions.
According to police, officers found 10 sick and neglected animals inside. All of those animals, eight cats and two dogs, have been taken to Animal Charity. The condition of the home, however, left officers wondering how anything could live inside.
There was no clear path through the house with junk and trash piled from floor to ceiling. Officers found the kitchen floor covered in feces to the point where the tile on the floor could no longer be seen.
The two dogs, both in poor health, were found in an upstairs bathroom where two shredded, soiled mattresses were also found. The toilet and sink in the bathroom were “bone dry” and completely caked with feces and animal hair. A downstairs toilet was also filled with feces and animal hair, a report said.
Officers reported an infestation of bees, gnats, flies and spiders inside the house, likely stemming from a large amount of spoiled food left throughout the home.
The cats were found in various bedrooms. None of the animals had food or water.
The health concerns were not limited to the inside of the house; an infestation of bugs was found on the outside of the house. Officers also found two cars on the property filled with bugs and creating a stench.
According to reports, Leonard has been issued “a multitude” of misdemeanor health/housing violations since 2007. The house was “red tagged” for having no water earlier this week. The water meter at the house has shown no movement in one year’s time.
jgoodwin@vindy.com