Palm City — Deputies with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office and animal services personnel removed at least 36 Border Collies from a southwest Palm City residence Monday and arrested the homeowner, authorities said, after describing the property as severely unsanitary and the dogs in poor condition.
Search warrant yields large animal rescue
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at a house on SW Alligator Street, where Martin County investigators had been probing the situation, the sheriff’s office said. Deputies and animal services officers worked together to locate and remove the animals; the operation continued as of Monday evening because some dogs remained unaccounted for inside the home.
The woman arrested was identified by authorities as Paige O’Donnell, 62. She faces charges of felony animal cruelty and improper confinement, according to the sheriff’s office.
Conditions at the scene described as hazardous
Officials characterized the interior of the residence as heavily contaminated, with extensive accumulations of feces and urine-soaked materials. Deputies and animal services staff reported wearing protective Tyvek suits because of the filth and debris that made safe animal recovery difficult.
"The animals themselves, the dogs, which are supposed to be Border Collies, beautiful dogs, are covered in feces. They're supposed to be white and black dogs, and they're solid black from the feces," Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said.
Sheriff Budensiek described the home as "stacked with garbage" and said the interior was "disgusting," noting the heat inside and the possibility that the residence lacked air conditioning. Those factors, along with skittish animals hiding in the clutter, slowed the removal effort, officials said.
Animal welfare and investigative steps
Martin County Animal Services and sheriff’s detectives led the investigation into the animals' condition and the scope of the situation. Authorities said they were still trying to determine exactly how many dogs remained inside the property because several were hiding and reluctant to come out.
So far, 36 Border Collies have been taken into custody by animal services. Deputies described the dogs as suffering from neglect that left their white-and-black coats nearly obscured by filth. The animals are now in the care of county animal services while the investigation proceeds.
Charges and next steps
O’Donnell was booked on charges that include felony animal cruelty and improper confinement, reflecting investigators’ assessment that the dogs were being kept in conditions that constituted abuse and unlawful confinement. The sheriff’s office did not provide details on potential court dates or bond information Monday.
Authorities said they will continue to search the property to account for all animals and assess their health. Any animals determined to be medically injured or suffering will receive treatment through Martin County Animal Services, the sheriff’s office said.
- Location: 1245 SW Alligator Street, Palm City
- Animals removed so far: 36 Border Collies
- Suspect: Paige O’Donnell, 62
- Charges: Felony animal cruelty, improper confinement
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Search executed | Monday (Martin County Sheriff's Office) |
| Protective gear used | Tyvek suits due to feces and debris |
| Animal status | Removed to animal services; further assessments pending |
Community impact and public safety
Incidents involving large numbers of animals in confined, unsanitary conditions pose public safety and animal health concerns. Besides immediate welfare needs for the rescued dogs, county resources — including animal services staff and potentially veterinary care — are required to treat, rehabilitate and shelter the animals while investigators complete their work.
Martin County residents with information related to the case were encouraged to contact the sheriff’s office. At the time of the report, deputies said they were continuing their efforts to locate any remaining animals and to document conditions inside the home for prosecutorial review.
The sheriff’s office emphasized the collaborative role of its detective bureau and animal services in the investigation, noting that coordinated enforcement and animal care are central to addressing severe neglect cases such as this.
Further updates, including the final count of animals removed and any additional charges, will be released by Martin County authorities as the investigation moves forward.
(Reporting by Javier Castellanos, State Correspondent)
