St. Johns County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested two individuals in connection with the rescue of nearly 70 dogs found abandoned in St. Johns and Flagler counties. The investigation centers on an animal cruelty case involving an overcrowded hoarding situation at a Palm Coast residence. St. Johns is about 8 miles west of Nocatee.
Investigators identified Austin Moore and Anthony Dunham as the individuals accused of transporting and abandoning the animals. According to law enforcement, the pair picked up 23 dogs from the Palm Coast home, loaded them into a vehicle, and left them along County Road 204 in St. Johns County. A third person, Carolyn Loveman, was also taken into custody. Investigators stated that Loveman is the mother of one of the men and was involved in the acts of cruelty stemming from the conditions at her home.
The scope of the hoarding became apparent in May when deputies discovered 51 additional dogs at Loveman’s residence. At that time, she was arrested on more than 30 counts of animal cruelty. The total number of dogs rescued across both counties reached 74. Three of the animals died following the abandonment, while the survivors are currently receiving medical care at local rescue organizations with plans for future adoption.
Palm Coast Animal Control Officer Heather Priestap described the environment inside Loveman’s home as overwhelming. Priestap noted a strong ammonia odor, comparing it to the smell of a cat, which indicated years of accumulated feces and urine on the floors. The specific legal charges facing Moore and Dunham, as well as the final disposition of the case, were not yet clear at the time of reporting.
