ORANGE PARK – The county filed a petition last week to permanently remove 274 animals from a property littered with filth, rodents and urine and fecal contamination at home on Old Jennings Road. County Attorney Courtney Grimm also will ask a judge to require Jennifer Michelle Wilkie to pay for the costs incurred from a day-long rescue operation at the 1.2-acre lot and the care of the animals and to keep her from owning any other animals in the future.

Agents with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Animal Services served a search warrant at the dilapidated home on Oct. 11. An investigation was launched weeks earlier after first responders were called to the home for a medical emergency. EMTs and deputies said the conditions inside the home at 246 Old Jennings Road were “deplorable.” They saw animal crates stacked inside the home and they said the interior was infested with fleas.

According to the lawsuit, “the County’s animal control officers observed over 200 severely neglected animals. The animals were of various species including dogs, rabbits, pigs, goats, poultry and turtles housed on the property in different situations ranging from small cages to free-roaming. The vast majority of the animals had little to no access to clean food or water and could not escape their urine and fecal contaminated housing. The skeletal remains of various species were found on the Property including scattered across the grounds, in closed kennels, and with live animals. There was extensive evidence of insect and rodent activity on the property including rat feces in water containers in nearly all kennels and contamination of food storage in various sites on the Property. Across the population of animals, there were numerous health concerns including but not limited to parasitism, dermatological conditions, husbandry concerns, dental disease, and poor body condition.”

Grimm’s six-page petition also contends Wilkie is “unable or unfit to adequately provide for the animals.” Wilkie has been summoned to appear in front of Judge Timothy Collins on Thursday, Oct. 21, at 1:30 p.m.

Neighbors complained for years about the animals and their conditions, but deputies weren’t allowed on the property.

It took nearly 12 hours to round up 104 dogs, 28 pigs, 44 rabbits, 72 chickens, six goats, two turtles, six pigeons, two quail, a duck and a goose. Two of the dogs delivered litters the night they were rescued to increase the total number of animals by eight now being housed at a temporary shelter established at the Clay County Agriculture Fairgrounds to 274.