Animal Cruelty Case in Palm City, Florida

A woman from Palm City, Florida, is facing allegations for keeping 36 border collies in a filthy home, marking the second instance of animal hoarding under investigation in Martin County recently.

Authorities identified the suspect as 62-year-old Paige O’Donnell, who has been charged with felony animal cruelty and false imprisonment, as reported on Monday. There was an ongoing inquiry related to the condition of both the animals and the homeowner when deputies executed a search warrant at her residence on Alligator Street.

Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek described the situation to reporters, noting, “The animal itself, a beautiful dog, a border collie, is covered in feces. It’s supposed to be a black and white dog, but it’s simply black with feces.” Rescue teams later removed the dogs, whose coats were in dire condition, transporting them to a safe environment.

Due to the unsanitary conditions filled with feces and urine-soaked materials, crews had to don protective gear when entering the house. They also found the temperature inside quite oppressive, leaving them uncertain about the presence of any air conditioning.

Footage captured by the crew showed the moment the animals were taken from the property, with some appearing fearful as they left. Budensiek condemned the state of the home, saying, “It’s just a pile of trash. It’s disgusting in there. There’s feces on every square inch of the house.”

Interestingly, according to CBS 12, O’Donnell had previously been a dog breeder. Authorities suspect she had confined some dogs in the house for around four years, prompting neighbors to express concern and contact law enforcement.

Budensiek elaborated that the conditions were dire, with the property being so rundown that a foot and a half of drywall was missing. He remarked, “Furniture has been destroyed and the animals are in dire conditions. The food bowls and water bowls there are covered in feces.” It’s estimated that the charges against O’Donnell could exceed 40.

This incident closely follows another case in Martin County. In that case, an elderly mail carrier was accused of hoarding approximately 100 dogs and cats collected from his route. Budensiek mentioned that authorities spent days monitoring O’Donnell’s home while attempting to negotiate her cooperation regarding the animals, which ultimately led to her surrendering one dog.

According to reports, she was aware of the situation and had received multiple offers for help. Currently, the Martin County Humane Society is caring for the rescued dogs.