US mother leaves teen and dogs in filthy home to go on birthday trip

A woman has been arrested in the United States for leaving her child with seven starving dogs alone at home in filthy conditions as she went to Las Vegas to celebrate her birthday.

The 37-year-old woman, Jessica Copeland, was arrested earlier this week for child neglect and animal abuse, according to a report in The Independent. A family member alerted Putnam County Sheriff’s office after a stench started emanating from the house.

When the authorities entered the house, they found a teen boy and seven “severely neglected” dogs, a statement said. However, what shocked them was the “vile living conditions”, with layers of animal faeces and garbage littered on the floor.

The condition of the dogs seemed like they had gone without food or water for days. Images released by the sheriff’s office showed the dogs with protruding ribs and carpets covered in faeces and filth.

The living room was fully littered, and several large holes were seen in the wall.

While two dogs were found locked in a bedroom covered in “four inches of faeces”, another was caged. Four others were in the living room, surrounded by a heap of garbage.

The teen told the authorities that the house had been in a similar state for years as his mother “refuses to clean”, the report said.

Copeland had left for Las Vegas on July 21 to celebrate her birthday. When she returned to her home on August 5, she was surprised to find law enforcement personnel at her residence. She was arrested immediately.

“The house is deplorable… This isn’t just from two weeks,” a law enforcement officer told The Independent. “The dogs are completely emaciated, to the point that they are being starved to death,” he further said.

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