Police found 3 children living with 245 animals. Among them: Rats, sugar gliders and a hedgehog.

[Fla Dem]

Source: Washington Post

By Lateshia Beachum
Oct. 21, 2019 at 4:45 p.m. EDT

Police in Edgewater, Fla., performed a wellness check on three minors on Sunday and discovered the children were living in squalor along with 245 animals.

Dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, and various other rodents and reptiles — including 60 adult rats with 23 babies — had been neglected and were dehydrated when authorities arrived. One guinea pig was dead on the scene. Three little girls called this place home.

Melissa Hamilton, 49; Gregg Nelson, 57; and Susan Nelson, 43, are facing charges of three counts of child abuse and 66 counts of animal cruelty, according to police.

According to the charging affidavit, Gregg Nelson was ready to end his relationship with his wife, Susan Nelson, and his live-in girlfriend, Hamilton. He wanted to take his three daughters with him, but his wife wouldn’t allow him. Gregg Nelson requested a wellness check, stating that the residence was uninhabitable for his children.


Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2019/10/21/police-found-children-living-with-animals-among-them-rats-sugar-gliders-hedgehog/

---

Florida, Florida, Florida. Feel so bad for the children and animals.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. The video is sickening for animals and children.

[the_sly_pig]

2. Snow and ice are cleansing.....

Just saying....

[LiberalLovinLug]

3. I wish the children and animals all the best

But wait....he was living with his wife AND his girlfriend together in the same house? And then decided he wanted to leave BOTH of them? Gee, that must have been a happy household (sarcasm). Not only the squalor those kids had to live with but I couldn't have been very stable psychologically, with those kind of dynamics in relationships.

[Fla Dem]

6. That's how I read it at first, but she may be a live-in GF in another house.

They may not necessarily be living in that terrible place. But yes, if they were all living there, it's amazing there were no homicides.

[Lucky Luciano]

11. Clevon's house!

[LiberalLovinLug]

12. Funny

But so close to reality its scary too

[dalton99a]

4. Pics at:

https://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20191021/3-children-246-animals-taken-from-deplorable-edgewater-home-police-say

[Fla Dem]

8. Thanks for the video. So thankful the animals will be cared for.

The children as well. Sad and horrendous situation all the way around.

[NurseJackie]

10. They are mentally ill... the photos made me so sad for the animals.

I hope they find good loving homes for them.

[LeftInTX]

5. People who have hoarding and serious housekeeping issues shouldn't have pets

I'm a horrible housekeeper (health problems), hubby has too much junk...no pets for us.

There are almost always animals involved in these situations...I don't know why...

[Fla Dem]

7. Animal hoarding is another whole psychological illness.

Animal Hoarding
A Complex Issue
Animal hoarding occurs when an individual is housing more animals than he or she can adequately care for. It is a complex issue that encompasses mental health, animal welfare and public safety concerns. Animal hoarding is defined by an inability to provide even minimal standards of nutrition, sanitation, shelter and veterinary care—often resulting in animal starvation, illness and death. In the majority of cases, animal hoarders believe they are helping their animals and deny this inability to provide minimum care.

https://www.aspca.org/animal-cruelty/animal-hoarding

[Karadeniz]

9. Thank goodness the father called!