Filthy Pearl home demolished

PEARL, MS (WLBT) - The home of the Pearl couple accused of hoarding animals is no longer standing. Crews knocked it down Monday morning because it was deemed unfit for human habitation.

In April, authorities discovered over 30 cats and dogs inside the home of Paula and Gerald Keyes. Four dead dogs were found in a freezer in the garage. And officials say all flooring was soaked with urine and feces.

The Keyes lived in the home on Upper Drive with a four year-old child. Some neighbors say they're glad the home is gone.

Connie Seaney told us, "I'm just grateful. Just really grateful. I just feel more comfortable and I'm not afraid anymore and I think it's just wonderful."

The Keyes pleaded no contest earlier this month to over 100 misdemeanor charges between the two of them..." More & video

Oct 14, 2009: "Animal Hoarding" couple fights to keep their home

By Cheryl Lasseter

PEARL, MS (WLBT) - On Wednesday, Paula Keyes videotaped the crews pulling all of her family's belongings out of her house, against her will.

"I'm gonna turn it over to some attorneys because I intend to sue the biohazard company and the City of Pearl," she says.

The city's mayor and board of aldermen have voted to demolish the house, deemed unfit for human habitation. Gerald and Paula Keyes were arrested back in April when authorities discovered unsanitary conditions inside. At least 28 animals lived in the home with the couple and their son, Dakota, who just turned four. Gerald and Paula both spent a few months in jail, and pleaded no contest to the charges. Dakota remains in the custody of D.H.S.

"He's in a foster home right now. We're gonna go to court, fight to get him back," Paula says. "They have refused to let us back in the home to get what's left in there."

Paula says she and Gerald were given 30 days to clean their property, but they were in jail for most of that time. She says they really only had 27 hours to work on it, which she says was not enough time to remove the 60 percent of their belongings that remained inside before Wednesday's clean-up.

Paula has submitted several appeals regarding the house demolition. All of the appeals are handwritten, and it doesn't seem they're making much of a difference..." More & video

Apr 21, 2009 Couple Charged With Animal Cruelty Ordered To Clean House

JACKSON, Miss. — A Pearl couple charged with 31 counts of animal cruelty has been given 30 days to clean up their home, which police said was covered in animal feces.

Earlier this month, investigators confiscated 31 animals from the home of Bennie and Paula Keyes in the 2200 block of Upper Drive in Pearl. Police said they found Feces covering the floor of the home and feces inside the animals’ cages. Officials also found animal corpses in the refrigerator.

Most of the animals had to be euthanized because of poor health. The three surviving dogs and a cat have been adopted…

In addition to the animal cruelty charges, the couple is each charged with one count of child neglect for keeping a 3-year-old in the home. Police haven’t said if the boy is Bennie Keyes’ biological child.

Bennie Keyes is also charged with 31 counts of failure to provide sustenance to animals, one count of possession of a schedule 3 substance, 27 counts of possession of animals above the city limit, one count of unsanitary conditions and one count of disorderly conduct. All of the charges are misdemeanors…” More, Video & Slideshow

Apr 3, 2009: Pearl man faces 28 counts of animal cruelty

GANNETT.COM BY CHRIS JOYNER AND HEATHER CIVIL

Mississippi — A Pearl man is in custody charged with 28 counts of animal cruelty after police removed dozens of dogs and cats in poor health and unsanitary conditions from a home at 2229 Upper Drive in Pearl.

Pearl police arrested Gerald Keyes around 10 p.m. Thursday after responding to a domestic disturbance call placed from inside the house.

A 3-year-old boy also was taken from the house and hospitalized for observation.

Investigators are still on the scene. In addition to the animals still alive, about eight frozen bundles believed to be animal remains were removed from a refrigerator inside the house.

Police believe more animals may be buried in the back yard. They say Keyes apparently has been practicing veterinary medicine without a license…. More

Apr 4, 2009: 28 animals found in squalid Pearl home

3-year-old living in feces-laden house with sick dogs, cats; cruelty charges faced

Pearl Animal Control officer Heather Rogers said the smell of urine was overpowering at Keyes’ home, and feces was on every surface inside the house.

“On the couch, on the floors, kennels and crates,” she said. “Not only were there animals living in those conditions, the child was living in those conditions.”

The house was declared unfit for human habitation, Pearl police Capt. Ronnie Conerly said.

Conerly said late Friday afternoon he had discovered records that officers responded to a call at Keyes’ home in 2005 requesting a welfare check on a juvenile. At that time, officers noted a bad smell and found 20 to 30 cats in the home. The investigation was turned over to Animal Control.

Apr 4, 2009: Two kittens, two puppies from Pearl home euthanized

Snakes taken from Reeds Spring raid euthanized

By: CORY DE VERA

Numerous infected snakes were euthanized Thursday at a property in Stone County and other animals were seized, according to Jeff McRoy, statewide investigator with the Humane Society of Missouri.

Three adults were arrested and a 3-year-old girl was taken into protective custody after a poisonous cobra, a suspected wolf hybrid and several non-poisonous constrictor snakes were found in the home, said Stone County Sheriff Richard Hill.

At least one alligator and two monkeys were taken from the property because conditions were not conducive to their good health. Several other animals, such as exotic fish that were living in tanks and some cats, will be allowed to stay.

McRoy said the owner of the animals was a collector. "It's similar to a hoarder-type mentality," said McRoy. "His passion was poisonous snakes."

The raided property is 45 Friday Drive off Talking Rock Road in Reeds Spring. Officials also found about a pound of marijuana and other drug paraphernalia in a basket near the home.

In a building, there were about 20 containers of dead snakes and 25 to 30 containers of live snakes. The snakes were dying because of a virus, said McRoy..." More

So. Louisville woman charged with neglect of over 40 pets

An ongoing investigation of animal neglect has led authorities to a disturbing discovery. Five dozen animals were living in a south Louisville home with a woman and a young child.

Authorities say they received several calls from concerned people about what was happening in this house. Neighbors told us, off camera, they guessed anywhere from 40 to 50 animals had to be living at a home off of S. 5th Street.

As it turns out 60 animals -- 56 cats and 4 dogs were confiscated Friday night from Launa Calvert's home. They were taken to Metro Animal Services. Only the dogs and 12 of the cats were healthy enough to survive.

"She signed over a large amount of cats and they were humanely euthanized because they were very sick and in very very very poor health,” said Metro Animal Services Director Jackie Gulbe..." More