WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – A Winter Haven woman faces multiple animal cruelty and environmental charges after investigators found a dead donkey, several dead and dying cats and large amounts of waste scattered across her property, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Melissa McKinney, 59, was arrested Oct. 1 following an investigation at her home on Logan Lane by the Sheriff’s Office Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit and Environmental Crimes detectives.
The investigation began earlier in the week when Polk County Animal Control and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection responded to reports of diseased and dead animals along with a possible chemical leak.
DEP officials contacted the Sheriff’s Office after arriving at the property and observing dead animals and what authorities described as suspicious circumstances.
When detectives arrived, they found a donkey lying dead in the yard.
According to an arrest affidavit, McKinney told investigators the donkey had been unable to get up and had been lying in the same location since the weekend. When asked whether she had contacted a veterinarian, she responded, “I haven’t had time,” investigators said.
A detective reported seeing signs in the dirt indicating the donkey had been thrashing, which investigators believed showed the animal had been in severe pain and distress.
No evidence of the reported hazardous gas leak was found after DEP tested the property’s water and air, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Dead and dying cats found
Investigators also encountered numerous cats in varying conditions.
Four dead cats were found in the yard, while three others were described in the affidavit as extremely lethargic, barely responsive and experiencing labored breathing.
McKinney told investigators another 10 to 15 dead cats were inside a dumpster, according to the affidavit. Detectives said the decomposing animals appeared to be the source of a strong odor coming from the container.
Other cats appeared healthy, as did a pony and two dogs on the property. Investigators noted that the animals shared access to the same yard, food and water.
Detectives also reported seeing multiple containers of antifreeze around the property, although the containers appeared to have their lids secured. Authorities have not said that antifreeze caused any of the animals’ illnesses or deaths.
Investigators said McKinney did not request veterinary treatment for the sick animals while authorities were at the property and instead focused on having the dead animals removed.
Search warrant leads to removal of animals
Detectives later executed a search warrant and removed two dogs and a pony that were described as being in fair condition.
They also removed two adult cats and three kittens that were in extremely poor condition. All five later died, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Four cats already found dead and the deceased donkey were also removed.
Necropsies are planned to determine what caused the animals’ deaths. The Sheriff’s Office said additional charges could follow depending on those results.
Investigators also documented environmental conditions throughout the property, including standing water with larvae, piles of construction materials and household waste, rusted tools, vehicle parts, electrical wiring, discarded containers and a waste tire holding water.
A burn pit measuring more than 13 feet long was found within about 2 feet of a creek, according to investigators. Authorities also reported large amounts of animal feces and concentrations of flies and mosquitoes around the residence.
McKinney was arrested on three counts of felony animal cruelty, two counts of creating or maintaining a nuisance injurious to health, three counts related to operating an unpermitted solid waste site and two counts of unauthorized possession of dairy cases.
Authorities have not released the results of the animal necropsies.