Lee County sheriff's deputies needed gas masks just to get through the front door of a North Fort Myers home where they say they found 30 dogs crammed into filthy, overcrowded kennels, a dead dog decomposing out front, and a disabled adult man living without a bed or running water. Mary Margaret Paulis now faces dozens of charges tied to the discovery.
Deputies were called to the home after a report of suspected animal hoarding and a dead dog spotted outside the residence, according to WINK News. Deputies reported smelling decomposition coming from a kennel in front of the garage, and they wore gas masks and protective equipment to even enter the property, per the same report. Inside, they said they found a deceased dog inside a kennel and 30 living dogs confined to overcrowded enclosures surrounded by feces and urine, according to Gulf Coast News Now.
Puppies Found Covered in Feces, Dogs Underweight and Injured
Among the animals, six puppies were found in one kennel covered in what investigators believed was their own feces, per the sheriff's office's account relayed by WINK News. The outlet's report notes that several dogs were significantly underweight while others showed signs of untreated injuries. The home reportedly had no functioning air conditioning, lacked running water, and had limited ventilation, leaving the dogs with inadequate drinking water, the station's report states.
Lee County's 1st Precinct Crime Section, an animal cruelty task force and Lee County Domestic Animal Services all took part in searching the property, and animal services ultimately removed 30 living dogs and one dead dog from the home, the report notes.
Disabled Man Found Living Without a Bed or Running Water
Investigators also found an adult man with a mental disability living at the residence with his parents. The man had numerous bites on his arms and legs that investigators said could have been caused by fleas inside the home, per deputies' account cited in the same report. Special Victims Unit detectives responded to investigate his living conditions.
His bedroom did not have a bed and was covered in trash, and the home had no running water, the outlet's report states. Sheriff Carmine Marceno called the conditions “absolutely inhumane” and said his office's mission is to protect people and animals who cannot protect themselves.
Charges, Bond and a Pending Court Date
Paulis was identified as the homeowner. Marceno said she was the man's caretaker. She was detained shortly after deputies began investigating. Reports differ on the exact charge count: WINK News reports Paulis faces 31 counts of aggravated animal cruelty and one count of neglect of a disabled adult, while Gulf Coast News Now reports she faces 31 counts of aggravated animal cruelty and neglect of a disabled adult without specifying a separate count.
A judge found probable cause in the case and set her total bond at $82,500, according to the WINK News report. The judge also ordered Paulis not to possess any animals while the case is pending. Her next court date is scheduled for Nov. 9, 2026.
