Kids, 24 chihuahuas seized from filthy Brevard house
A Port St. John mother who sheriff's deputies said kept her two children and 24 chihuahuas in a home packed with trash, caked with dog feces and reeking of urine, will face a judge.
Tamara Daniels, 52, was charged with child neglect without great bodily harm after a Brevard County sheriff's deputy noticed the condition of her home while on another call. Deputies were called to the scene Sunday night.
Investigators said Daniels' two children were removed from her roach-infested home by the Department of Children and Families, and the children were placed with relatives. Her 24 dogs are now in the custody of the SPCA of Brevard, which plans to put the dogs up for adoption.
"We gladly pulled them to safety and from what we've heard about the home they were in, there's nowhere to go but up!" said Angie Friers, associate director for the SPCA. "The conditions they endured breaks our hearts and makes us work even harder to make sure they know nothing but love and safety and security all the rest of their days on earth."
According to investigators, when they entered Daniels' home, she said, "I know it's bad. Please don't take me to jail." She informed officials from the Department of Children and Families that her two children were not enrolled in school, court records show.
Daniels was booked into the Brevard County Jail and held on a $4,000 bond, court records show.
Sheriff's investigators said Daniels had live bugs crawling throughout her home, as well as a large amount of black dirt clinging to the walls. Investigators said Daniels' children had dog feces clumped onto their feet.
Daniels is scheduled to have an arraignment at 8 a.m. on Oct. 6 at the Titusville Historic Courthouse.
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