Woman Arrested After Bearded Dragon, Pygmy Goats, Cats, Dogs, And Other Animals Found Dead On South Carolina Property: Cops

A South Carolina woman faces 35 charges related to animal cruelty after police found 15 animals dead on her property, including cats, dogs and a bearded dragon, according to authorities.

On March 13, Animal Control deputies responded to a welfare check of a residence in Seneca after a report came in regarding a goat stuck in a fence and multiple animals abandoned on the property, the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office said.

Once at the residence, deputies tried knocking on the front door but got no response, officials said, but they observed two goats that were deceased on the property.

A search warrant was executed and deputies found 15 animals in total dead – four dogs, one cat, one bearded dragon domesticated lizard, one chicken and eight goats.

Six more animals – one ram, one ewe and four Pygmy goats – were found alive, officials said.

Investigators said the dead animals were described as either decomposed or skeletal.

Based on the evidence that investigators gathered, 36-year-old Jennifer Marie Hunnicutt, who had not been spotted at the property for a month-and-a-half, was charged with depriving the animals of necessary sustenance and/or shelter, or by omission, which led to the death of some of the animals.

She was also charged with abandoning some of the animals without securing another owner or providing the necessities of life, officials said.

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Hunnicut was arrested on April 5 and she faces a total of 35 charges,15 of which are felonies. She was booked into jail on a $102,975 surety bond and bailed out of jail on April 6, according to authorities.

Police said the investigation is still ongoing.