JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — 25 poodles that were seized and taken from a home on the Southside are now with rescue groups getting medical care and awaiting adoption. The city says there were living in deplorable conditions, taken when Animal Care and Protective Services served a warrant in a suspected animal cruelty case.
Pictures from the investigative report showed dirt, feces, ripped furniture, and conditions the report described as “deplorable.”
“We hear a lot of barking at night and also have a terrible smell,” an unidentified neighbor said. “It smelled like something had died.”
The neighbor didn’t want to be identified but told Action News Jax reporter Ben Ryan that the problem had existed for at least three years.
The investigative report said an officer smelled something outside and found a dead dog in a black garbage bag.
Action News Jax found previous citations against the owner dating back to 2018. The woman, Dava Cardwell, was cited three times in 2019 and once in 2020 for violations involving animals in her home. The citations say a pet shop permit for the business “Grand Doodles” was revoked in 2020 but she continued to operate.
“I think it says she has a problem,” the neighbor said. “She didn’t learn last time when they revoked her license.”
Videos were given to Action News Jax from a neighbor, with audible audio of the dogs barking outside.
The poodles were in the age range of newborn to 5 years. The report said the animal cruelty report in this case came after a potential buyer went to look at a dog and found animals abused, filthy and Cardwell trying to sell them for $3,000.
Action News Jax stopped by Cardwell’s last known address for comment, but despite three cars parked in the driveway, nobody answered.
The investigative report said many of the dogs had matted hair and lived in kennels surrounded by feces and hair. It also said they were found drinking from the backyard pool, which wasn’t clean. The neighbor Action News Jax spoke with is hoping the animals are doing better in the care of those rescue groups.
“We want to see them taken care of and have a good home and someone that could take care of them,” she said.
At this time, no citations or criminal charges have been issued for this specific case.
Most of the dogs are with a rescue in Gainesville called Faithful Friends, however, there are plenty of dogs at ACPS headquarters in Riverside that also need a good home.