- Florida, USA -
The Altamonte Springs Police Department announced the arrest of 36-years-old TONYA LYNN GROSE (pictured).
In a media release, police said that on September 20, 2023, the Department received a request for assistance with an animal well-being check from Seminole County Animal Services.
Officers responded to a property on 818 Ballard Street and met with the resident, GROSE.
According to the release, “officers could smell the pungent odor of urine and feces coming from inside the residence.”
When officers entered the residence, they saw “multiple emaciated dogs in cages without food or water, and birds in cages filled with feces and cockroaches.”
Additionally, officers found many cats and “the floor was covered with excrement, urine, and roaches.”
In the backyard, were two sheds and more malnourished dogs in cages. Inside of one of the two sheds, officers discovered many dogs. According to police, the shed was hot and there was no ventilation.
Officers then made a gruesome discovery in a second shed where they found a dog’s skeleton and fifteen (15) large trash bags “containing animal remains in various stages of decomposition.” This shed was emanating a “powerful odor”, stated the release.
An officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) was also called in to check the well-being of the birds.
According to police, over two dozen animals were removed from the property and are in the care of Seminole County Animal Services for veterinary evaluation. One dog died while officials were on the scene and another passed away while being transported to Seminole County Animal Services.
As a consequence of this large intake, Seminole County Animal Services are now over capacity. If you wish and can afford to bring a new member into your family, please, call the shelter at (407) - 665 - 5201. Thank you!
Officers placed GROSE under arrest and booked her into the Seminole County Jail on five felony counts of cruelty to animals. Police said that additional charges are pending the results of the investigation.
Court records show GROSE made her first court appearance on September 21, 2023, and at time of writing, records show she is being held at the Seminole County Jail.
GROSE’s arrangement is scheduled for November 7, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. before Judge Melanie Chase.
WESH reports that “According to the county, Grose was already on Animal Services' radar. They gave her her first verbal warning in 2017 after getting a call and doing a welfare check. The county said she made improvements.
But then, in August 2022, Animal Services got another call about possible abandonment because of the odor and noise.”
Police said they don’t know where GROSE got the animals from and the case is still under investigation.
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GROSE’s mugshot shared from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.
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This monster just kept getting dogs & birds cuz she was ‘given chances’ … chances the blessed souls inside cages were not! Take this POS & drop her in a cage & let her sit in her squalor & then she may experience a minuscule of what she forced these precious souls to endure for years! I’m sick of these monsters getting chances! The animals sure as hell don’t.
Why in God's name was she allowed to have these animals in her care??? They should not even warn the person. If they can't do a job you get fired. Shame on the county and social worker for these poor animals. Any one taking care of any kind of animal should not have to be told how to do it. For the animal lovers out there you know how to take care of pets and any animal for that matter. There should not be any warnings the first warning IS the LAST warning OR when they have to come out once they are now forced to check ever 2 weeks on this person.