Over 100 Horses, Cats, Dogs Found Living In 'Deplorable Conditions' At Mississippi Property, Couple Arrested

A couple was arrested after over 100 animals were found living in “deplorable conditions” at a property in Harrison County, Mississippi, on Wednesday (May 20).

Officials executed a search warrant at the property on Wright Road and found 11 different species on animals living in “deplorable conditions.” The animals found included dogs, cats, birds, miniature horses, and a monkey.

Harrison County Animal Control worked along with the nonprofits Humane Society of South Mississippi, and Wild at Heart Rescue to rescue the animals. These organizations are now taking care of them. Harrison County Sheriff Troy Peterson said that several of the domesticated animals may have to be put down.

A couple, identified as Sharon and Daniel Bertok, was taken into custody and charged with animal cruelty.

In a statement to ABC/CBS-affiliated television station WLOX, Attorney Michael Crosby, who was representing the couple, defended them saying they were animal lovers who “dedicated their lives to giving love and care to rescued animals, all of which were spayed and neutered.”

“The only injured or sick animals, were the ones that came that way, and they were doctored back to health. All were seen by vets and up to date on their shots. The dogs slept in cages at night and were let out daily, except for the eight that slept in the bed with the couple. The cages were cleaned daily, and there was an area between the cages and the outside, where the dogs would do their business on the way out, which needed to be cleaned, but with her back injury and his efforts to expand the house, that one area was not clean,” he said.

Meanwhile, neighbors said the raid lasted for several hours and they were “shocked.”

“My initial reaction was we had the cavalry coming in. I really thought it was a drug bust. ... Harrison County was coming in one-by-one and in came the horse trailers. So, we knew something was going down,” said Darlene, a neighbor, adding that she didn’t know the couple.

“I don’t think many people around here do know them. We knew they had animals. We assumed everything was OK and they took care of them,” she told the local channel.