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Gwinnett Officers: 31 Neglected Animals Found In Woman's Home

Posted: 2:41 pm EST December 3, 2008Updated: 2:46 pm EST December 3, 2008

Gwinnett County officials said they have arrested a 59-year-old woman after finding 31 neglected animals, including a raccoon and squirrels, in her home.

Officers with Gwinnett County Animal Welfare said they were called to investigate a complaint of animal neglect at a home on Hewatt Road in Snellville Tuesday.

Officers said when they arrived they observed several dogs and a raccoon on the property. Once inside the house, officers said they found animals in various stages of neglect living in unsanitary conditions.

Animal control officers took custody of 12 cats, 16 dogs, two squirrels and a raccoon. Police said the raccoon had to be euthanized.

Police arrested Sylvia Simmons at the scene. Police said Simmons was on probation since 2006 after being convicted on similar charges. One of the conditions of her probation was that she was not allowed to have animals for five years.

Simmons has been charged with 12 misdemeanor counts of animal neglect. Police said violation of probation charges are pending.

Simmons was taken to the Gwinnett County Detention Center. She has bonded out.

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