HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — On Wednesday, Horry County Police Department officers arrived in the Nichols area of Horry County to follow up on a report of animal cruelty.
Upon arrival, officers observed two dogs running loose on the fully fenced property, according to the report.
The report said one of the dogs appeared to have some type of eye infection, as there was white pus around both eyes.
When officers met Kaylee Lynn Gaske on the property, she agreed to let officers open the gate and enter the property.
Asked about the number of animals he had on the property, Gask said two dogs were kept loose, two inside the residence and one in a kennel in the backyard. Ta.
Gask also said there was another dog that had died on the property the day before and he planned to bury it that day, according to the report.
She said she had been treating the dead dog with various medications, but none had worked, according to the report.
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The dead dog appeared emaciated and had no food or water anywhere the dog had access to, the report said. The dog was also on a chain, and Gaske said he put the dog on a chain because it kept climbing the fence.
The condition of the deceased animal led authorities to believe that the dog had died before Gaske first stated. Gasque said the dog was alive as of Monday, Oct. 14.
When officers entered the residence, they observed two dogs and two rabbits loose in cages, according to the report.
The animals appeared healthy and active, but the larger of the two dogs was underweight and appeared to be infested with fleas, the report said. Officers also observed a sick dog that appeared emaciated.
There were stains of animal feces and urine throughout the residence, the report said.
With Gaske’s consent, authorities took the deceased dog to HCACC for examination and to determine the cause of death.
Following the search warrant, authorities issued an animal seizure order, which took all animals on the property into custody.
Six live dogs, two dead dogs, two live rabbits and one dead rabbit were seized, the report said.
Gask was charged with seven counts of animal care and treatment and animal cruelty, commonly known as torture.
