A Las Vegas couple are facing animal abuse charges after dozens of live and dead animals were found in their hoarder home, car and hotel room.
Carolyn Luke, 72, and Timothy Miller, 79, were arrested in March after police initially discovered 51 guinea pigs and rabbits – 11 dead – in their car after receiving a tip about the cadavers.
The find led to a search warrant on their home, where 42 dead animals were found in their freezer, alongside 21 live dogs, 38 live guinea pigs – and a staggering number of stuffed animals.
Investigators also found the couple had been evicted from a nearby hotel due to reports about a ‘smell of death’ emanating from their room.
Once inside the hotel room, officers found a further 12 dead dogs, 21 alive dogs, 39 guinea pigs and an array of other animals, reports KLAS.
Dozens of alive and dead dogs, guinea pigs, birds and even tortoises were found inside a squalid Las Vegas home during an arrest warrant search in March
Timothy Miller, 79 (left) and Carolyn Luke, 72 (right) are each facing 14 animal abuse related charges after the dozens of pets were discovered in their Las Vegas home, hotel room and vehicle
Squalid pictures released by officials show the couple’s home was filled with a trash and animal waste, which an investigator said was ‘the worst’ he had ever seen
Detectives also found a staggering number of stuffed animals inside their property
The horror finds began after Boulder City police received a tip about alleged animal abuse at the hands of the elderly couple, leading officers to stop their car, pulling them over ostensibly for a broken taillight.
The arresting officer said they ‘observed several chunks of fur’ on the vehicle’s center console, before the couple rolled down a window and they ‘could smell dead animals inside the car.’
After finding the 51 animals stuffed in the vehicle, Luke reportedly told police that they were driving to California to give the guinea pigs to a friend.
During the stop, the couple also reportedly admitted to officers that they would find more animals at their Las Vegas home and hotel room.
At their hotel room, staff had recently evicted the couple because other residents complained about the ‘smell of death’, with even more animals alive and dead stored inside.
Upon a search of their home, investigators found squalid living conditions with clear signs of hoarding, with a startling number of stuffed animals filling their home alongside other trash.
In their freezer, officers found a total of 42 dead animals, including 30 guinea pigs and four dogs. An investigator described it as ‘the worst’ he had ever seen.
The animals were initially discovered after a tip led police to find 51 guinea pigs and rabbits – 11 dead – in their car (pictured), which was said to be filled with the ‘smell of dead animals’
Inside the home, a total of 42 dead animals were found in their freezer, alongside 21 live dogs and 38 live guinea pigs crawling around the mess
Luke reportedly told police she had been in conflict with her neighbors over their hoarding
Officers described squalid conditions inside the property, noting there were dogs living in their own feces, filthy aquariums, and poorly kept bird and hamster cages
A number of birds were also found inside the property, and Luke reportedly referred to the many animals around her home as ‘her babies’ in interviews with police
Investigators also reportedly suffered burning eyes and lungs because of an ‘ammonia smell’ filling the home
Officers described squalid conditions inside the property, noting there were dogs living in their own feces, filthy aquariums, and poorly kept bird and hamster cages.
Investigators also reportedly suffered burning eyes and lungs because of an ‘ammonia smell’ filling the home.
Animal control had reportedly tried to make numerous attempts to enter the home before the grisly discoveries, and Luke said she had blocked them in the past because she needed to clean her home.
Following their arrest, Miller reportedly said he took the animals from his home to the hotel to ‘hide them from neighbors and animal control officers.’
Luke had also reportedly referred to the animals as ‘her babies’, and claimed they died due to heatstroke.
Both pensioners now face 14 animal abuse related charges, and are next due in court in August.
They were released on suspended jail sentences until their next court date, and ordered not to have any contact with animals.
The hotel room had reportedly been booked days before their arrest, and Luke told officers she booked it because she was having issues with her neighbor complaining about her many animals.
Some of the dead animals were allegedly stuffed into luggage, and they said they planned to cremate or bury them.
The surviving animals have since been moved to an animal shelter, where they appeared to be recovering and shelter officials said they were being prepared to find new homes
Animal rights activists said they were shocked at the huge number of animals in their home, saying ‘there’s all kinds of things that can happen when you have that many animals living in those conditions’
Miller and Luke (seen appearing in court via videphone this week) are facing 14 animal abuse related charges, and are next due in court in August
The surviving animals have since been moved to an animal shelter, where they appeared to be recovering and shelter officials said they were being prepared to find new homes.
Animal rights campaigners said they were shocked by the discoveries, with Hilarie Grey, the CEO of Animal Foundation, telling Fox 5 Vegas that their animal hoarding had drastic consequences on the pets.
‘There’s all kinds of things that can happen when you have that many animals living in those conditions,’ she said.
‘In this case, it was a lot of guinea pigs, dogs, hamsters, birds, even a few tortoises.’