Evansville Police Department have arrested two people on more than 50 animal neglect charges.
Officers were dispatched to the 2300 block of East Franklin Street to assist Animal Control with an animal complaint. Officers and Animal Control discovered more than 20 cats, more than 10 dogs, 5 ducks and 4 chickens at the residence.
Most of the cats were found inside a room where a child’s pool and multiple buckets were filled with feces. The cats did not have appropriate food or water available.
Multiple cats also showed signs of injuries that were not properly treated.
The dogs were found confined to kennels in the basement of the home without access to food and water. The ducks and chickens were found outside the home in a fenced in area without access to food and clean water.
According to animal control, many of the cats suffered breathing issues because of the toxic air quality inside the home.
Officers had to use breathing masks to avoid breathing the toxic air inside the home. The effects of the air quality could still be felt with this protection in place.
Joshua D. Nelson, 32, and Alee J. Nelson, 27, were both arrested and charged with 54 counts of neglect of an animal.
Presumption of Innocence Notice: The fact that a person has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.