The afternoon of April 18 a resident of Waywood Place in Palm Coast told the city’s animal control authorities that a pack of dogs was running at large in the neighborhood, charging neighbors and barking at them. Animal control responded.
By the end of the investigation, 10 dogs and eight cats had been seized from the house at 12 Waywood Place, a 2,000 square foot rental with more animals than furniture. There was no one home when animal control arrived. “The front door was wide open,” according to court papers. Dogs were running in and out. There was no fresh air circulating. The animals’ owner had left the television blaring, possibly to cover up the sound of barking dogs. There was no water for the cats and dogs but plenty of dry food in numerous bowls–and the overpowering smell of feces and urine, and the presence of both underfoot.
The animals’ ownership was attributed to Staci Steele, 47, who now faces civil action in Flagler County Circuit Court, along with Mackenzi Steele, 22, to determine whether they are fit to have custody of the animals, whether they “neglected and cruelly treated the animal(s),” and whether they should pay for the care of the animals while they are being held at the Flagler Humane Society. Mackenzi Steele works at Safehaven Pet Rescue, according to the city.
“The owner’s previous reasoning for having so many animals was that family was in town for the holiday at that time and they all bring their animals over to her home and then leave. It is clear that this is not the case as the owner used the same excuse today stating that her family is in town again for Easter and all brought their animals. The owner’s stories kept contradicting themselves and she could not give us a straight answer as to who owns which animals other than the four she is claiming.” The investigation report includes photographed copies of rabies vaccination certificates regarding six cats owned by Mackenzi Steele, with their home address listed as 56 Rae Drive. Staci Steele told animal control that she does not own any of the cats, which she said belong to her daughter’s boyfriend.
The inspection report includes numerous photographs of the house’s interior. Photos show several tin bowls and black cages spread around the loving room, bowls in bedrooms, floors strewn with shreds of clothing or paper, urine, feces, including in bedrooms and bathrooms, and living room furniture extensively torn. One picture shows three dogs on an unmade bed and one dog at the foot of the bed.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation that day. A deputy reported: “Upon arrival, I observed the front door wide open. There were approximately four dogs outside barking. I then made entry into the house. During a sweep of the building I observed a Daytona Beach Police jacket in one of bedroom closets. While searching the building, I observed fecal matter, urine, and dog food covered across the floors and walls. No persons were found inside of the residence. Based on Animal controls findings, and the
fact that they received reports of the dogs running loose on Belle Terre Pkwy and witnessed it themselves coupled with the fact that the residence was unsecure, no one was home, and the residence possessed poor living conditions for any human or animals, Palm Coast Animal Control proceeded to seize the animals for their safety.” (The Daytona Beach Police Department jacket turned out to have belonged to a former part-time crossing guard. But the Daytona Beach department asked for the jacket to be seized and returned to it.)
“When asked why the home was in such a deplorable state,” the city’s animal control report reads, “the owner acted as though she had no idea and that it was the first time she had ever seen the home like this, she stated that ‘it was not like this when I left earlier today.'” The amount of feces and urine did not happen over several hours. This is several days’ worth of being shut in this home.” (Staci Steele did not respond to a text to her cell phone, and her voice mailbox was full.)
The initial investigation and seizure of the animals took place on April 18. Two days later an animal control officer was again at the property to issue Staci Steele a mandatory hearing appearance citation. Steele was outside when the officer arrived. She went back in the house and closed the door, though windows were open and a strong odor of bleach wafted out, indications that cleaning was taking place. A dog was barking within. When Steele came out, “immediately she became irate and emotional,” the report states, crying, yelling and cursing, saying that the officer was destroying a family and threatening to kill herself. The officer surmised that Steele and her companion were trying to dissimulate the dog from being seized by animal control.
On Monday, Mackenzi and Staci Steele were served summonses to provide defenses to the civil action within 20 days. See the full animal control report here.
really says
Whats next babies smh never ceases to amaze me. SPCPA right down the street.
Lorri says
This is so SAD. Thank goodness for Flagler Animal Control came to the RESCUE of these animals.
JustMe says
Maybe, Flagler Live should be showing more pictures that would make Palm Coast Animal Control take these animals, they all look in very good shape, and I have seen much worse house conditions in my time.
Just visiting here from out of town, and someone told me Palm Coast only allows a certain number of animals.
So, why didn’t their animal control just take the animals that were there over that allowed limit and leave the others?
I guess, there is more to this story then meet the eye in these photo’s.
They showed vet records, so it seems the animals were vaccinated. Like I wrote, there must be more to this story, because they animals look in good condition and the house doesn’t look like a disaster.
The original woody says
The landlord deserves every stinking second of this.The renters should never ever be allowed to have animals again.
NJ girl says
Only two pictures were posted. Is it considered poor pet parenting when your dogs get up on an unmade bed? Or is it considered poor pet parenting if your dogs have accidents on the floor? Multiple animals may make multiple piles of poop I have a different story to tell. On a Sunday evening about a month or so ago I observed some dogs running around . I did not know where they came from. We were able to round them and with further investing we saw a house with a window open and screen pushed out. These dogs never charged at us they just wanted to get back into the house. If anything they were shy. I helped them back in and closed the window. Looked in the windows in the front and there was no mess that we could see through any of the windows. Yes a tv was on, again is that poor pet parenting? I would have reported them if I saw anything wrong.
FlaglerLive says
The full report with all the pictures were posted, as were all relevant documents. Here’s the link to the initial investigation and pictures again.
Duncan says
They looked happier at home then in the cages at Animal Control. The place is no doubt dirty and if children were kept in this environment that would be tragic. I’m sure there are much worse environments that pets are kept. (with no food). Re-homing the excess number of pets above the city ordinances seems like the best course.
elizabeth robinson says
Sometimes things are not what they seem. They clearly had more animals than the code allows, however, people in position to know say the animals were actually well cared for. This is not the first house in Palm Coast to be messy or to have too many animals. Intent is an important consideration and the actual condition of the animals is what is the main issue. Hard to imagine that charges are needed here. It is important that Flagler Live and other media keep an objective eye and seek the opinion of people in rescue and animal services, not just animal control.