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Pasco House Over Run By Dogs Torn Down

Photo by BRYAN FARROW

County code enforcement officials investigated and declared the house "unfit for human habitation."

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By JULIA FERRANTE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 8, 2008

Updated: 05/08/2008 04:31 pm

HUDSON - A house at 16034 Frost Drive, where Pasco County code enforcement officials found a woman and four dozen dogs living among filth and feces in November, was demolished today.

Workers from Cross Environmental Services of Crystal Springs, wearing protective clothing and ventilators, cleared furniture, trash and debris from the 2,400-square-foot structure Wednesday before knocking it down the next day. Jim Everett, the company's general manager, said the project was one of the more cumbersome demolitions because of the filth and debris.

County code enforcement officials investigated and declared the house "unfit for human habitation" after two women died of natural causes there within a week of one another. Homeowner Diane Lombardi, who inherited the house from her father, was living in the garage with one of the women and had given the house over to the dogs. She unsuccessfully appealed the demolition order in March.

The house had no functioning electrical systems or plumbing.

Lombardi had until April to demolish the home. When she failed to do so, the county hired Cross Environmental. Officials will place a lien on the home for repayment.

A second home across the street at 16027 Frost Drive was spared from demolition after a contractor took possession of it. The contractor has until August to fix up the home.

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