SPCA removes chickens, goat, other animals from South Union Twp. home
A veritable farmyard was discovered living inside a South Union Township home where humane officials and police found dozens of chickens, a goat, more than a dozen dogs, an undetermined number of flying squirrels, or sugar gliders and other animals Wednesday morning.
Officials from the Fayette County Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) executed a search warrant at the home of Deborah Williams after receiving information from code enforcement officers regarding livestock being raised inside the two-story residence.
Magisterial District Judge Joseph M. George Jr. issued the warrant.
SPCA Officer Howard Springer said he learned of the situation at Williams’ 94 Albion St. home after receiving tips from code enforcement officials and others regarding chickens and goats being kept inside the house.
Springer said he along with code officials visited the home Monday and said that Williams denied them access to the residence.
However, while outside the home Monday, Springer said that live chickens were observed living in the basement of the residence.
Following the visit, Springer secured a warrant to search the home.
Officials said 15 dogs were taken from the home Wednesday along with 28 chickens, a goat and other animals.
Additionally, officials said they removed animals similar to flying squirrels known as sugar gliders.
The small animals, with bodies not much larger than field mice, are considered pocket pets. The animals are indigenous to Australia but popular pets in the U.S. and are about 12 inches long from the tip of the tail to the tip of the nose. It was not clear how many sugar gliders were taken from the residence.
The basement was littered with feces, dirt and debris where Williams had lined the room with a series of cages where the chickens were nesting.
In another corner, a goat was being housed in a makeshift pen.
According to Springer, Williams recently sold two other goats she had raised in the cellar.
The backyard of the home was also in deplorable condition, littered with animal feces and chicken feed.
Several of the dogs were being housed in a makeshift kennel behind the residence, with debris and animal feces covering the ground and the doghouses inside the shanty.
While the conditions inside the home were deplorable, most of the animals taken into custody by SPCA officials appeared in good health and to be appropriately nourished.
The warrant indicates that maintaining and housing live poultry and livestock inside a residential structure is a violation of state laws.
Springer said that multiple charges for cruelty to animals and other citations will be filed against Williams at a later date before George.