Citrus County deputies arrested 76-year-old Jill Swaim after a welfare check at her East Eureka Court home turned up one dead cat and dozens of live felines living in squalid conditions. Deputies say the animals were removed from the property after what started as a welfare call quickly turned into a large-scale cruelty investigation.
During the first phase of the welfare check, deputies and animal-control officers removed 13 living cats and one deceased cat from the house. Another 39 cats were seized the next day, bringing the total number of live animals recovered to 52. Responders reported heavy accumulations of feces and urine throughout the residence, and some personnel complained of watering eyes, burning throats and persistent coughing from an overpowering ammonia smell. According to the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, Swaim, a 76-year-old volunteer for multiple local rescue groups, was arrested on 13 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and one felony count of aggravated animal cruelty, and forensic veterinary exams could lead to additional charges. The post also urged anyone with concerns to call the county's non-emergency line at 352-249-2790.
The recovered cats were transported to Citrus County Animal Services in Inverness for shelter and veterinary care. County animal-services materials explain that the Inverness shelter handles cruelty cases and maintains forensic veterinary records, documentation officials say will be critical as the cats are triaged and treated, according to Citrus County Animal Services.
Rescue ties and oversight
Swaim has volunteered with several local rescue organizations, and the sheriff's social media post noted that one group acknowledged seeing the home's decline but did not report it to authorities. That admission has pushed rescue leaders to revisit foster-screening rules and when to flag problems, while Citrus County Animal Services and volunteers scramble to care for the dozens of seized cats.
Legal context
Aggravated animal cruelty is a felony under Florida law, and a 2025 measure known as "Dexter's Law" increased penalties and created a statewide registry that went live on Jan. 1, 2026. The legislation adds a sentencing multiplier for aggravated cases and requires the Department of Law Enforcement to publish offender information; see HB 255 (Dexter's Law) for details.
Swaim remains in custody while investigators and forensic veterinarians complete their work, and prosecutors will review lab results before deciding whether to seek additional charges. The sheriff's office says the investigation is still active and is asking anyone with information to contact the non-emergency line.
