Three children and 245 animals including dogs, cats, rabbits, sugar gliders, bearded dragons and a gecko are removed from 'deplorable' Florida home filled with rotten food and feces
- Three children aged eight, nine and 10 were removed from a home in Florida on Sunday night after police carried out a welfare check
- Cops discovered 245 animals at the home of Melissa Hamilton, 49, Gregg Nelson, 57, and Susan Nelson, 43, including a dead guinea pig in a cage
- Images show the home packed with animal cages, dirty floors covered in clothes plus food and beverage boxes, as well as an unhygienic fridge and bathroom
- Cops said there was 'rotting food, animal feces and urine throughout'
Two women and a man are set to be charged with child abuse and animal cruelty after police found rotting food, animal feces and urine, plus a dead guinea pig in a Florida home where three juveniles and 245 animals were living.
Cops hold Melissa Hamilton, 49, Gregg Nelson, 57, and Susan Nelson, 43, responsible for the disgraceful scene which was discovered when they carried out a welfare check on youngsters aged eight, nine and 10 on Sunday night.
Among the mess were four dogs, two cats, four hamsters, 12 rabbits, 14 birds and nine live guinea pigs - plus one that had died.
'Upon arrival, officers not only located the three children, but also 245 animals of various species housed on the property,' Edgewater Police said. 'It was immediately evident neither the children, nor the animals were being cared for properly. The residence was in deplorable living conditions.
Three children aged eight, nine and 10 were removed from a home in Florida on Sunday night. Susan and Gregg Nelson are pictured
Cops discovered 245 animals at the home including four dogs. One of the dogs is seen in healthier looking times on the right and having lost hair in the video filmed Sunday
Feces are seen on top of blankets covering the floor of a room with a bunk bed
Susan Nelson (pictured left), 43, was in custody. Police said her husband Gregg Nelson was in custody and Melissa Hamilton's (pictured right) whereabouts are known, but she was not in police custody early on Monday morning
'EPD Officers observed a dead guinea pig in a cage, rotting food, animal feces and urine throughout the residence.'
The Edgewater property also housed 10 sugar gliders, seven bearded dragons, 95 mice plus 60 adult rats and 23 babies.
Images shared on the Edgewater Police Department page show numerous cages scattered around room after room in the home decorated with green plants and various trinkets.
A video obtained by the Daytona Beach News Journal shows one locked up dog whinging and another black dog that appeared to be underfed and losing hair, curled up on a dusty fitted sheet tossed on the wooden floor. Behind the animal is stray straw and a finished can of soda discarded in the heap.
In and among that is a flat screen television and boxes of food and beverages including cherry soda and vodka.
The horrifying sights included a dead guinea pig in a cage among the seven bearded dragons, 95 mice plus 60 adult rats and 23 babies
A dog is seen caged up surrounded by a heavily-littered floor and cramped surroundings
Cops also reported urine throughout the residence which is pictured from an angle that show cherry soda boxes and other containers littered around plants and a flat screen TV
Cops said there was 'rotting food' at the home when they visited. Pictured is inside the fridge
A door is seen broken off a cabinet and left on the grubby floor
Pictures show that throughout the home the floor is soiled with gunk and one images shared by law enforcement shows feces on the blanketed floor of a bedroom containing a bunk with only one mattress that is dirty and distressed.
The top bunk is covered with clothing, toys and other apparatus.
Close-up shots of inside the fridge show the unhygienic conditions in which food is stored.
A tub of leafy greens, soup, condiments and a blended concoction are seen shared with food covered in plastic bags.
Plus it's clear food that had fallen onto the floor of the refrigerator has not been cleaned away in a long time.
A door broken off a bathroom cabinet reveals barely any necessities are stocked away in the home where six people stayed but dental items and unclean clothing are scattered around.
Cops said on Monday that the children were removed from the residence by the Department of Children and Families and were placed with a responsible family member.
Alongside Edgewater Animal Control, police removed the animals and they were brought to the Edgewater Animal Shelter.
However the shelter is in need of donations which can be dropped off at 605 Mango Tree Drive in Edgewater.
They had raised approximately $3,330 by Monday.
'As you may be aware the shelter has had a large influx of animals this evening. Many of these animals need medical care,' the shelter posted on Facebook Sunday. 'We also need towels, small animal bedding, cat litter, rabbit/guinea pig food, Purina kitten chow … glass aquariums, water bottles for cages (rabbit and guinea pig).'
The shelter added they were also in need of cleaning supplies such as laundry detergent, bleach and vinegar.
Edgewater Police were carrying out a welfare check on the children when they found the state
The home was keeping two cats (one is seen right), 12 rabbits and 14 birds inside. Gregg is seen with a parrot left
Images on Facebook show the family preparing food with pigeons and other birds on the counter
'Any and all help at this point is appreciated,' they continued.
Susan Nelson was pictured in a police mugshot.
Police said Susan's husband Gregg Nelson - a qualified EMT - was in EPD custody.
Melissa Hamilton's whereabouts are known, but she was not in police custody early on Monday morning. Hamilton is a registered nurse working with disaster medical assistance teams.
They will be charged with three counts of child abuse and 66 counts of animal cruelty.
Social media snaps make it clear the family are obsessed with animals. 10 sugar gliders (one is pictured right) were discovered in the Edgewater, Florida home cops said
'Hamster inside': A Facebook image of their car even hints to the family's adoration for animals
One snap shows a baby animal with fish tank in the background of a packed room (left). Another shows feeding time (right)
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