Two dogs were found living in a home covered in feces in Palm Bay Tuesday. One of them suffered from open sores and was severely malnourished. Their owner was arrested.
- Police removed 2 dogs from Palm Bay home
- One was severely malnourished, had open sores
- Owner arrested for animal cruelty and abuse
Palm Bay police say an anonymous tip led them to the home on Evergreen Street, where they found the dogs, Camie and Amie, and 54-year-old Claire Mimier.
"There was feces all over the place," said Lt. Mike Bandish with Palm Bay Police. "It appeared from looking at the pictures that no one lived there, but unfortunately someone did. It's hard to believe even a human could live under those circumstances."
Camie was taken to an animal hospital to treat her open sores and malnourishment. Amie was in better condition, but showed signs of malnourishment.
Police say if they hadn’t shown up when they did, it could have been a different story.
“The officers on scene at first didn’t even think the dog was going to make it," Bandish said. "But we did get an update from the Brevard County Animal Shelter that said the dog's heart is healthy. It does have a severe skin infection but they are expecting her to make a full recovery." Mike Bandish said.
Neighbors we spoke to said Mimier mostly kept to herself, and they rarely saw the dogs.
“I pass by the house sometimes and saw cats in the window but never saw the dogs outside or anything," neighbor Marie Goncaoves said.
Mimier is being held on bond for a misdemeanor and felony charge of animal cruelty and abuse. The maximum sentence for a 3rd degree felony animal cruelty charge is 5 years in prison.