A Union Township resident was booked into the Porter County Jail last week on a charge of cruelty to an animal, the Porter County Sheriff’s Police said.

Deborah Ann Brewer, 61, of 405 Sturgeon Drive, was arrested on eight counts of that charge at 8:50 a.m. Nov. 5, police said.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed by Animal Control Officer Patrick Cassin, on Oct. 4 a neighbor complained about the smell—which “had gotten increasingly worse over the course of the last five years”—from Brewer’s home across the street. Cassin attempted to speak to Brewer that day but was unable to make contact, although he did observe “a strong odor of animal feces coming from inside the residence,” he stated in his affidavit.

Two days later, Cassin returned, went to the back of the house, and observed through a sliding glass door animal feces so thick on the floor that “the actual floor itself could not be seen,” he stated. Once again, however, he was unable to make contact with the property owner.

Then, on Oct. 11, concerned about Brewer’s welfare, a PCSP officer was dispatched to the residence, where he also failed to make contact but did say, after looking through the windows, “that the inside of the residence was in disarray and filled to approximately chest height (five feet) with trash.”

A warrant was subsequently obtained and executed on Oct. 15 and seven dogs and a cat were recovered from the residence, the PCSP said. No dead animals were found.

Posted 11/12/2012