Three people are facing animal cruelty charges after two dead dogs and a dead bearded dragon were found in a Westport, Massachusetts, home that was filled with animal feces and other debris.
Westport Police said they responded to a home at 644 Sanford Road on Sept. 25 along with the Boston Animal Rescue League and the local Board of Health for what they described as "a severe case of animal cruelty." The house was reportedly in poor condition, with fleas, animal feces on the floor and large amounts of both wet and dry clutter.
Two dogs, a bearded dragon and several cats had reportedly been living in the home along with family members.
An American Eskimo dog was found dead in a trash bag inside the house, and the bearded dragon was found dead in a terrarium located in a bedroom, police said.
A further search uncovered a second American Eskimo dog dead in a closet. That dog had a partially consumed paperback book in its mouth, and a choke-style chain collar around its midsection. Piles of garbage bags had been stacked in front of the closet to conceal its location. The dog had such a serious infestation of fleas that police said they at first thought it might have still been breathing.
Police said they were unable to locate adequate food or water for any of the animals.
A cat litter box was also located in a bedroom, overflowing with cat feces. Police said they were unable to find the cats, but they did find cat paw prints in the basement, and it is believed that they may be transient and were entering and exiting through a broken basement window.
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The kitchen floor was almost entirely covered with decaying animal feces and household trash, police said. The odor inside the house was overwhelming to investigators even though they were wearing face masks and other protective equipment.
The homeowner, Nicole Botelho, 45, and her estranged husband, Stephen Botelho, 52, of 68 Anthony Ave. in Swansea, were arrested on Tuesday by Westport Police and charged with six counts of animal cruelty. They were arraigned on Wednesday in Fall River District Court.
A 17-year-old juvenile relative was also issued a summons for six counts of animal cruelty.
It wasn't immediately known if the three suspects have attorneys.
