Neighbors Surprised, Disgusted By Holiday Animal House

Public information on an apparent animal abuse case in which a menagerie was found in a home in Holiday remained sparse Thursday.

Deputies worked in conjunction with Pasco County Animal Control after a call about a “strong smell” led them to a home at 1011 Hiawatha Place in Holiday after 6:30 p.m, Wednesday May 22.

Someone called about the smell coming from the house and “numerous flies that could be seen on the windows,” wrote Kevin Doll, sheriff’s office spokesman, in an email to media.

Fearing for the residents inside, a deputy entered the home, Doll said. That deputy didn’t find a human in distress, however. Instead, the deputy uncovered about unattended animals inside. The Tampa Bay Times says there were about 28 animals within.

The animals, which were described as “emaciated,” had been left unattended for about a week, deputies believe. The animals seized included dogs, cats, rabbits, a lizard and a snake.

Neighbor Frankie Rodriguez said it was a moving truck driver who raised concerns about the house Wednesday. He talked to her about the smell and flies in the windows. She said she went over to the window and saw flies on the other.

“It’s disgusting,” she said

Rodriguez just recently moved to the same street the house is on and didn’t know the house’s occupants well. Her understanding is that they only lived there about four months. 

She said a woman who lived at that house came to her on Sunday night concerned about a dog that went missing from the property.

Katie Kordenbrock lives next door to the house. She said she lives there with her husband and kids. She said she had heard barking from the neighbor's property and has seen small boxer puppies there, but the menagerie discovered by deputies was a surprise.

“We knew they had animals, but we didn’t figure they had that many,” she said.

The current owner of the property where the animals were found is George Capra Jr, of Palm Harbor, according to Pasco County records.

In an unrelated case, a Spring Hill woman was arrested Thursday and accused of abandoning 53 animals in a moving truck.

Deputies were trying to find the last renters of the home Thursday morning.

Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Melanie Snow referred folks to the State Attorney for Pasco-Pinellas for information on the case Thursday afternoon. That office didn't return calls for comment.

She identified the animals' owner to the Tampa Bay Times as 25-year-old Alicia Nelson, but she said Nelson had not been arrested.