_ Florida woman's squalid home in Lakeland where cops found one of the worst cases of animal cruelty in years

Horrific photos taken from inside a Florida home show why cops say the woman arrested there was responsible for one of the worst cases of animal cruelty they'd ever seen

The images shared by a sheriff's office in central Florida show the awful state of a the home belonging to Catherine Briley, 66, the owner of more than two dozen neglected pets, cops claimed in a statement.

All were said to be in severe distress when officers from The Polk County Sheriff's Office raided the two-bedroom 1,137 square feet property in Lakeland on Wednesday.

Inside officers say they found five dead cats under a bed -  as well as at least one live animal kept without sufficient food and water.

Photos from the bust show several visibly distressed animals with matted fur. 

Others show the trash strewn about the woman's home - which cops said emanated an odor so strong that they had to wear masks.

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'This is the third case since December where we have found a woman who is hoarding animals to the point where they are being neglected and suffering from illnesses,' said Sheriff Grady Judd of the ongoing case.  

'The home, inside and out, is also what I would call unlivable. 

'This particular suspect is no stranger to the criminal justice system,' he went on to reveal, 'having been arrested in the past for various crimes.'

Sheriff Judd did not specify the nature of those arrests, but public records indicate she was arrested by the same department at least four time before - once in 1998, again in 2001, a third in 2004, and finally, one last year.

The first involved the alleged battery of an unnamed victim that resulted in 'serious injury,' and saw Briley - seen scowling in a 26-year-old mug shot - booked and released within a span of two days.

The second, also occurring in Polk's County, came after an alleged incident of domestic violence, one that cops at the time said consisted of battery. For that, she served three days in county jail, records show.

The third, occurring in September 2004, stemmed from an incident of alleged aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and again saw Briley jailed for three days. Her bond was set at $5,000.

Then, nearly 20 years later in March 2023,  she was arrested yet again - charged with resisting an officer without violence, giving false information to a law enforcement officer, and being an accessory to a felony after the fact, in the third degree.

The outcome of each case, as of writing, is currently unclear. DailyMail.com has reached out to the State Attorney Office 10th Judicial Circuit for comment. 

As for the current case,  Briley was arrested and charged with 28 counts of animal cruelty, five counts of felony animal cruelty, and one count of confining animal without sufficient food/water.

She was also charged with one count of keeping unpermitted landfill, at a home that  she's owned since at least 1998, property records indicate.

Detectives said they were tipped off about the situation at 4328 Hedge Drive by callers who reported there were neglected cats on the premises, as well hoarding occurring behind closed doors.

When investigators arrived on-scene, they were met with a strong odor of ammonia - much like the scent officers from the same force were met with back in December when they entered the home of Lisa Lacharite, 48, who was charged for housing 309 animals including ducks, chickens, geese, cats and dogs, also in Lakeland.

In that case, the suspect billed herself as someone 'who rescued [the] animals' - an assertion also made by Briley as cops made contact, Sheriff Judd said.

At that point, Briley also told officers she lived inside the home and had about 16 cats and a dog - the latter of which was photographed looking visibly mangy and haggard during detectives' response.

Those same investigators had to wear respirator masks when they entered the home due to toxic ammonia levels, and found at least ten more cats roaming the home than the woman said - in addition to five dead found under a bed. 

They said they found between 20 and 25 felines in addition to the lone dog, roaming throughout the home with many coughing and emanating green discharge from there noses.

The dog, cops noted, had a hard time walking, along with grossly overgrown toenails to the point that they were curled. 

The animal was also missing fur and appeared to be suffering from a skin condition, as officers went on to find the five dead cats under a bed.

In all, 27 cats and the dog were removed and are now getting treatment, cops said. Once nursed back to health, the animals will be placed for adoption.

Meanwhile, the property surrounding the home sits covered in trash and debris - a reminder of the conditions under which the allegedly abused animals were kept.

Judd told onlookers: 'It is our hope these animals will be rehabilitated and able to be adopted out to loving homes.'

He added that his other aim is 'that this suspect is no longer allowed to own animals.'

Record indicate Briley has since been released on bail. A court date, as of Monday, was not immediately specified.

The incident comes months removed from the incident involving Lacharite, as well another weeks later inlolving 51-year-old Lakeland woman Tamesha Knighten, who was arrested following a five-month investigation which began when two cats named Luna and Pancake died within minutes of each other.

(Fluierul)