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Seffner Couple Face Animal Cruelty Charges

News Channel 8 photo by KATE CALDWELL

The surviving goats have already cost Hillsborough County more than $1,100 to feed and medicate. They will be sold in the next few months.

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 6, 2008

TAMPA - A week after investigators seized 55 goats, 35 dogs and seven cats from a Seffner couple's property, the couple has been charged with animal cruelty, Hillsborough deputies say.

The cats and five goats were in such poor health that they needed to be euthanized, according to investigators.

The couple was charged Tuesday with six counts of animal cruelty – one for each goat that needed to be euthanized and one for the herd overall, Cpl. Bruce Harrell said.

The remaining goats are being treated by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office's agricultural unit at a new impound facility in Lithia. Some of the goats were so emaciated upon arrival that their bones could be seen through their skin, he said.

The first week alone, the goats cost a little more than $1,100 to feed and medicate, said Harrell, an agricultural unit supervisor. The goats ultimately will wind up costing the department about $4,500 to $5,000, roughly 40 percent of its entire budget, Harrell said.

He said the goats will be sold during the next few months. They will be broken into three or four groups and sold at several public auctions.

The money made from the goats likely will go to the agricultural unit's budget next year, Harrell said.

Animal Services investigators served a search warrant July 30 on property owned by Larry and Rae Lynn Smart, 2005 S. Parsons Ave. in Seffner, and found the yard where the animals were kept covered in ankle-deep goat manure.

The dogs were kept in stacked rusty kennels. The animals did not have access to clean food or water, investigators said.

Investigators say the Smarts are animal breeders who advertised in local newspapers.

Rae Lynn Smart inadvertently tipped off authorities when she took two dogs to Animal Services to have them euthanized. The canines were in poor condition, investigators said.

The Smarts' home was also in a decrepit state, investigators said. The roof of the house was caved in, and several broken-down vehicles and large appliances littered the lawn. Goats lived in the house, which had no running water. Feces covered the floors, and junk was stacked against the walls.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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