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Nearly 100 Animals Found At Run-Down Seffner Home

News Channel 8 photo by KATE CALDWELL

Goats are removed from the property.

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By PETER BERNARD and AMERICA DEUPREE

News Channel 8

Published: July 30, 2008

Updated: 07/30/2008 07:09 pm

TAMPA - A menagerie of 55 goats, 35 dogs and seven cats were seized today from homeowners who lived in filth and kept the animals in putrid conditions, investigators said.

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

"It's probably one of the worst conditions I've ever seen," said Dennis McCullough of animal services.

Veterinarians have examined the animals and some of the ill goats may have to be euthanized, animal services spokeswoman Marti Ryan said.

Investigators are trying to determine the condition of the animals, Ryan said, and whether charges will be filed.

The dogs were kept in rusty kennels that were stacked on top of each other. 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. The roof of the house is caved in and several broken-down vehicles and large appliances littered the lawn. There is no running water inside the house and goats had lived inside. Feces covered the floors and junk was stacked against the walls.

"Everything from clothes, to phone books, to videos and toys," said Hillsborough sheriff's Cpl. Bruce Harrell said. "Just everything stacked from floor to ceiling. We found one light that was in working order inside the home."

Tribune reporter Ray Reyes contributed to this report.

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