What police discovered inside this Florida woman’s house will haunt anyone who loves animals

A Florida woman abandoned her home for nearly a year.

Her seven pets paid the ultimate price for her cruelty.

And what police discovered inside this Florida woman’s house will haunt anyone who loves animals.

Police discover house of horrors on Pine Tree Drive

Edgewater Police officers responded to a disturbing call Friday night that no one should ever have to make.

Neighbors on Pine Tree Drive reported possible animal abuse at a home they hadn’t seen occupied in almost a year.

What officers found when they entered the residence was nothing short of a nightmare.

Police described “deplorable living conditions” with animal feces scattered throughout the residence and the building showing signs of serious neglect.

What officers found next will haunt anyone who’s ever loved a pet.

Two dogs, two cats, and three birds – all dead.

The smell hit them immediately, and the sight was even worse.

These animals had been rotting in that house for months.

Not a single food bowl or water dish could be found anywhere in the residence.

No sign that anyone had cared for these helpless creatures in months.

According to investigators, these pets suffered and died from lack of food and water over an extended period.

Owner admits to abandoning animals for a full year

The homeowner, 57-year-old Danielle McGinnis, had vanished from the property nearly a year ago following a civil dispute.

Police tracked her down in Daytona Beach, where she made a confession that reveals the depth of her callousness.

McGinnis told officers she left the animals inside the home when she moved out and never returned to check on them.

Not once in an entire year.

She claimed she asked a “friend” to look after the pets, but when investigators pressed for details, McGinnis couldn’t provide a name or any contact information for this supposed caretaker.

Police say she never once checked on them after moving out.

Her story about getting help from a friend? Complete nonsense.

McGinnis left seven pets to starve to death and didn’t look back.

Community reacts to shocking cruelty case

People in Edgewater can’t believe something this terrible happened right next door.

“When I read what happened, I was physically sick, I was nauseous,” neighbor Tara Sharpe told local media. “I couldn’t believe it happened so close to us right there and we never knew.”

Chris Alterio, another neighbor, captured what every pet owner feels: “If you take these animals in you’re supposed to love them and protect them and take care of them and treat them like family. Even when they can be a pain in the butt sometimes and chew up your furniture or whatever you still love them and take care of them.”

The tragedy is made worse by how easily it could have been prevented.

McGinnis had dozens of options that wouldn’t have cost her a dime.

Every county in Florida has animal shelters that take in surrendered pets.

Rescue groups across the state specialize in finding homes for abandoned animals.

Veterinary offices regularly help connect pet owners with resources when they can’t keep their animals.

McGinnis chose none of these options.

Central Florida sees surge in animal cruelty cases

This wasn’t the only horrific animal abuse case to hit Central Florida this week.

Polk County authorities made arrests in two separate investigations that paint a disturbing picture.

Deputies in Lake Wales charged Joemanuel Nunez-Suarez with felony animal cruelty after discovering horses and goats in shocking condition..

One horse was so malnourished that its ribs and hip bones were clearly visible.

Another horse was found lying in its own waste, barely breathing, and died before investigators could save it.

Deputies discovered the animals were drinking water contaminated with antifreeze and gasoline.

In a separate case, Alan Alderman and Thornton Arnold were arrested after six dogs were found trapped inside a home with no power and no ventilation.

The temperature inside reached 107 degrees.

The dogs were panting like crazy, and the ammonia in the air reached 25 parts per million – that’s poison-level stuff compared to normal clean air at zero.

McGinnis now sits in jail facing serious charges

Danielle McGinnis is behind bars on seven counts of aggravated animal cruelty resulting in death.

Volusia County Jail is holding her on either $40,000 or $70,000 bond – court records show different amounts.

But no amount of jail time can bring back the seven innocent lives lost due to her negligence.

Edgewater Animal Control took custody of the deceased animals for proper handling.

Sheriff Grady Judd of Polk County, speaking about the other recent cases, put it perfectly: “We don’t tolerate animal abuse in Polk County. These dogs suffered due to pure neglect and now, their abusers are right where they belong.”

The same should apply everywhere.

Animals depend completely on their owners for food, water, shelter, and medical care.

When someone takes on that responsibility, they’re making a commitment to another living being that can’t speak for itself or seek help when neglected.

When you bring animals into your home, you’re signing up to be their whole world.

These seven pets trusted McGinnis to feed them, give them water, and keep them safe.

She walked away and left them to die the slowest, most painful death imaginable.

But here’s what makes this even more infuriating – it didn’t have to happen.

Animal shelters, rescue groups, and veterinarians are there for exactly this reason.

No one had to die in that house on Pine Tree Drive.