The Edgewater Police Department has apprehended a woman accused of leaving several pets to perish in her abandoned residence. Responding to suspicions of animal cruelty last Friday, officers unearthed a grim scene at a home on Pine Tree Drive, revealed WFTV. Inside were the decayed remains of two dogs, two cats, and three birds, evidence of neglect dating back nearly a year.
"If you take these animals in you're supposed to love them and protect them and take care of them and treat them like family," Chris Alterio, a neighbor, conveyed in a statement detailed by WESH. The home was declared uninhabitable due to its extreme disrepair and the presence of animal feces throughout the premises. Officials believe the pets died of starvation and dehydration, citing a total absence of food or water.
Danielle McGinnis, the homeowner, admitted to police that she left the animals behind when she moved out and claimed she had arranged for a 'friend' to tend to them. However, McGinnis failed to provide any specifics about this person. Neighbors corroborated the timeline of neglect, noting they hadn't seen McGinnis at the property for almost a year.
Upon her arrest in Daytona Beach, McGinnis faced seven charges of aggravated animal cruelty. "When I read what happened, I was physically sick, I was nauseous," Tara Sharpe, another neighbor, expressed, according to a WESH interview. McGinnis is currently detained at the Volusia County Jail with her bond set at $40,000.
