2 arrested after Fla. house fire that killed dozens of pets
MELBOURNE, Fla. — Two suspects have been arrested in connection with a Florida house fire earlier this month that killed more than 50 animals and left 15 others displaced.
Jacquelyn Traum, 67, and Daniel Brantley, 55, were both charged with four counts of felony animal cruelty and 74 misdemeanor animal cruelty charges stemming from the fire on Merritt Island on Jan. 11. Arrested Monday, both are being held in Brevard County Jail on a $45,000 bond.
They are scheduled to be in court Tuesday afternoon.
Brevard County Sheriff's Office officials said Traum and Brantley inhumanely housed the animals in a small space that they described as deplorable and unsanitary.
Deputies said the conditions were representative of animal hoarding and that the veterinary needs of many of the animals were neglected, resulting in great pain and suffering for the dogs and cats that lived there.
In a statement, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said, "The inhumane conditions these animals were being kept and the amount of suffering they endured is unimaginable. The scene was very difficult for our fire rescue partners and our deputies, who tried to save as many animals as possible that were trapped inside the home."
According to a Brevard County Sheriff's Office news release, "45 cats, four dogs, two raccoons and one macaw" died in the fire.
The sheriff's office said a large number of animals were held in a small space "where the health, safety, and sanitary conditions of the animals contributed to the excessive suffering and stress of the animals. The manner of confinement contributed to the death of 57 of the animals dud to their inability to escape the fire."
At the time of the fire, fire officials said efforts to stop the fire were hampered by some windows that were boarded up and the distressed pets inside attempting to get out.
Contributing: J.D. Gallop, Florida Today. Follow Florida Today on Twitter: @Florida_Today