Animals rescued from Pasco home

It started out as a relaxing Memorial Day morning with a cup of coffee and the St. Pete Times, but a disturbing article concerning four dogs, two children and an exotic dancer quickly changed the mood. New Port Richey police had been called to a duplex on the evening of Saturday, May 24, 2008. A terrible odor had been detected from outside the residence, dogs were barking non-stop and the woman living at the duplex had not been seen in a couple weeks. Neighbors told police the power had been turned off two weeks prior and the Carrie Posey-Feddersen had not been seen since.

The landlord met the police at the residence and allowed entry. Inside, they found a Rottweiler roaming free, a white rat in an aquarium, and three Miniature Pinschers in a small cage - two alive, one dead of starvation. Feces and urine saturated the floor and air. Food and water were no where to be seen. The animals had been abandoned, left for dead. Wanting to arrest the woman for animal cruelty, the landlord had the power turned back on, then started making calls to find her. A short time later she was located and coaxed back to the duplex, where New Port Richey police were waiting. Her two children were placed in protective custody and the woman was taken to jail.

Unfortunately, the story doesn't end there. The animals, already confined to horrible living conditions and nearly starved to death, then found themselves bound by red tape. Because the city of New Port Richey was not "under contract" with any animal organizations, the police did not know who to turn to that night. The animals were given food and water, and left to fend for themselves.

Two days later, the St. Pete Times published the article on Memorial Day, May 26, 2008. That's when Executive Director Rick Chaboudy read the story and took action. He contacted the New Port Richey police and asked about the welfare of the animals left in the duplex. He was told they were still in there, but the police were eager to get them out. They were relieved to have someone interested in helping the animals, and arranged for the landlord to meet at the duplex to allow entry to Chaboudy and the police.

Within the hour, all three parties met at the duplex. Unsure of what condition he would find the animals in, Chaboudy was surprised to be greeted by three wet dog noses, tails a-wagging. They were more than ready to get out of the house and into a safe environment where food and water were plentiful, and the air was clean and fresh. Moments later, the rat and three dogs were loaded into the Suncoast Animal League van and taken to AA Animal ER Center in Palm Harbor. Except for skin issues, internal parasites and being underweight, all were in relatively good health.

Five days later, Ms. Posey-Feddersen was released from county jail. She signed over custody of the two Min-Pins to the Suncoast Animal League, but refused to relinquish custody of the Rottie and white albino rat we had since named "Walter." As with all animal cruelty cases, the League will work with authorities to gain custody of the two remaining animals. The two Min-Pins were immediately spayed, microchipped, and brought up-to-date on their various medical needs, then placed for adoption. Both were adopted on their first day of availability. We will let you know the status of "Spike" the Rottie and "Walter" the rat once we have resolved all legal issues with the owner. For her part in this case, New Port Richey police charged Posey-Feddersen with felony animal cruelty for the Min-Pin which was found dead, and three additional counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty for abandoning the three remaining dogs without food or water. We will keep you updated on that case, as learn more.