Columbia Animal Hoarding Case Still Under Investigation

Howard County police officials are still investigating the case of 40 dead animals found in a Columbia house last month.

Police spokeswoman Sherry Llewelleyn said that no charges had been filed in the case, in an email on Monday. No additional details were available and officials are still awaiting the results of lab tests to determine how the animals died.

On Jan. 16, police discovered the dead animals in a house in the 9600 block of Lambeth Court after a property manager reported odors coming from the building. Police found 19 animal carcases in a freezer and the remains of another 21 dead animals in cages and other areas of the home, according to police officials.

The four animals that were found alive—two Siamese cats, a bearded dragon lizard and a gerbil—were nursed back to health and were available for adoption at the Howard County Animal Control and Adoption Center. There was no additional information available on the status of those animals on Monday.

The house where the animals were found had had the power turned off, police said.  And although there was pet food in the building, none of the animals had access to food or water.

No one had been in the home for more than a week, according to statements neighbors gave to police.