OCALA, Fla. — Many of the nearly 400 animals seized from an Ocala home in April were up for adoption at Marion County Animal Services on Wednesday night.It was one of the worst cases of hoarding that Marion County Animal Control officials said they had ever seen.In addition to the hundreds of animals seized, another 350 animals — dogs, cats, birds, cows, horses, sheep and reptiles — were found dead all over Ignacio Dulzaides’ 50-acre property, animal control officials said.”They varied from lying out in the yard to decomposing, some left in cages, placed in bags in a freezer,” said Elaine Deiorio, of MCAS.It has been nearly six months since MCAS brought in the animals, filling up two rooms at the shelter.
One dog, a 1-year-old basset hound, doesn’t have a name yet, but his new owner said she’s waiting to get to know him first while she trains him.”He’s nice, it’s just going to take a little work,” Melissa Touchet said.Touchet was one of dozens of people who were already adopting animals from the hoarding case.Dulzaides, 64, was charged with animal cruelty, and a judge ruled he could no longer own animals except for some livestock.While Dulzaides underwent psychological evaluations, his former animals were in sort of a rehab of their own. The dogs of all breeds had had very little human interaction until they arrived at the shelter, officials said.”These animals definitely need a lot of patience and care given my potential adopters,” Deiorio said.Those adopters may include some bird lovers. There are more than 150 available. A lot of the cages currently housing the birds were donated, including some by people in South Carolina who heard about the case.”I feel great,” Touchet said. “It’s a good thing. It makes me feel good. He’s going to get lots of love.”For details about adopting the rescued animals, visit the Animal Center at 5701 SE 66th St., call 407-671-8700 or visit http://www.marioncountyfl.org/AnimalCenter/Animal_Default.aspx.