The owner of a pet grooming and boarding business was recently arrested and charged with more than 100 criminal misdemeanors after being accused of neglecting animals.
Angela Geary, who was arrested on Friday, May 31, faces 51 counts of animal cruelty and 51 counts of confining animals without sufficient food.
A probable affidavit alleges Geary exposed animals at her establishment to “deplorable” conditions — reportedly leaving them without food or water, allowing feces and urine to cake up on the floors and storing dead dogs and cats in a freezer.
In the document, investigators call the accommodations at Little Friends Pet Lodge, located at 43 North Cleveland Street in Quincy, “inhumane and not livable.” The officers wrote that they believe Geary mistreated animals at her business for an extended period of time.
According to Geary’s arrest documents, the Quincy Police Department had been investigating the business since march.
That’s when officers were called out to Little Friends Pet Lodge after they received a complaint from former employees.
“Upon entering the building, the interior condition was deplorable,” the responding officer states in the arrest affidavit. “There was fecal matter on the floor along with cat litter, dog wee wee pads, urine stained newspaper, completely full cat litter pans (used).”
The officer stated there was also urine and fecal matter in every dog kennel, and there was no water in most of the kennels. The officer reported he did not see any dog food on the property, including the shed.
“I was overwhelmed with the scent of urine and fecal matter to the point I started vomiting,” the officer says.
Investigators say there were a total of 41 dogs on the property, and 10 cats, 9 of which were housed in three unclean, small dog crates.
The officer contacted the City of Quincy code enforcement, and the business was issued a stop work order for all business at the location.
Court documents reveal an investigator who was dispatched to the scene attempted to question Geary.
The document states Geary arrived on scene after initially leaving the location at the first site of law enforcement. Geary, who was read her Miranda Rights, according to the report, refused to speak.
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals team members responded to the scene with dog food and cleaning supplies, records say. Geary then agreed to sign over 51 animals to Tallahassee pet rescue owner Judy Du Bois, the officer wrote.
Two months later, Du Bois was arrested on animal cruelty charges in Leon County, and authorities seized more than 50 dogs from her property.
Less than a week after the initial call, investigators say they found a freezer that contained multiple deceased cats and dogs.
The freezer was later taken to an American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals location in Gainesville, where approximately 87 animals were turned over to a forensic veterinarian for examination.
The document notes the examining veterinarian was not able to perform a necropsy on the majority of the animals due to their poor condition..
“The other animals were in advanced stages of decomposition. All animals showed signs of severe flea infestation,” the document says.
Geary was released from the Gadsden County Jail after being granted a $5,000 bond.
Her arraignment is scheduled for June 25.
Erin Hill – Gadsden County News Service