MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. — Paige O'Donnell has relinquished the 36 Border Collies rescued from her Palm City home, the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast confirmed with WPTV on Friday, clearing the way for the dogs to be adopted or fostered once they are healthy enough.
WATCH BELOW: Deputies describe 'the filth' involved in rescuing 36 neglected dogs
O'Donnell faces 72 charges in what the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast calls the worst animal hoarding case it has ever seen. The dogs were rescued from her hoarded home in Palm City earlier this month. A WPTV investigation helped renew the sheriff's office probe into the case.
Deputies found the dogs living in deplorable conditions, with fur matted with feces and debris. Court documents show O'Donnell exhibited deceptive behavior during the investigation, blaming strong odors on "missed trash collection" and "old seafood."
The rescued Border Collies underwent what shelter staff call "medical grooming," a process that involves carefully shaving severely matted fur while checking for injuries and infections underneath.
"We shaved 9 pounds off of one dog filled with feces and urine," Sarah Fisher, spokesperson for the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast, said.
Fisher previously told WPTV that some dogs arrived with metal and glass fragments trapped in their fur. During the initial rescue, she said staff found "lots of pieces of metal — rusted metal, sharp metal — that have been stuck in their fur, along with shards of glass."
WATCH BELOW: Healing begins for animals rescued in Martin County hoarding cases
The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast says many of the rescued animals are already beginning to heal.
Cesar Perea, associate vice president of rescue for American Humane Society, said the emotional and physical recovery process for animals often begins quickly once they are removed from dangerous conditions.
"As soon as you start providing care, you immediately start to see the animal's personality come out," Perea said. "When they were in that situation, they were completely shut down."
Perea said trauma in rescued animals can appear as emotional shutdown, inactivity and fear, but he has seen dramatic turnarounds in many hoarding cases across the country.
"Within two weeks, you wouldn't even recognize that animal," Perea said. "They start getting a little more active and joyful. They start behaving like the pets that they're meant to be."
WATCH BELOW: 'Worst case we've ever seen': Humane Society caring for 36 rescued dogs
Perea said animal hoarding can still qualify as criminal neglect under the law when animals are denied proper veterinary care, food or safe living conditions. He said communities should watch for several warning signs that animal hoarding may be occurring nearby.
"The smell will probably be your first indicator," Perea said. "If you see a lot of animals, more animals than you usually see people having as pets, that's also a big indicator."
Perea said the situation can escalate when people feel compassion for animals but lack the resources to properly care for them.
"It becomes overwhelming very quickly when people feel that compassion to want to help animals, but then they don't have the resources or the ability to continue to manage and provide a level of care that's acceptable," Perea said.
The case has prompted legislative action from State Rep. Meg Weinberger, R-Palm Beach Gardens, who is pushing for a mandatory dog breeder registry in Florida following the Palm City rescue.
The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast is encouraging the public to adopt or foster available animals while the rescued Border Collies continue receiving treatment and rehabilitation. The shelter is also asking for donations to its emergency medical fund or through its Amazon Wish List.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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