Nearly 300 animals were found in an Oldsmar home Sunday morning after deputies responded to a call that a 16-month-old girl was missing, deputies said.

According to deputies, the 16 month-old girl, who was in the care of the couple at their home on Lee Street in Oldsmar, was reported missing by her parents 28-year-old Jeffrey O'Neil and 26-year-old Jennifer Kovacs. The couple told deputies just before 6 a.m. that their daughter had crawled out of the crib, opened the front door and was missing for at least an hour.

Deputies said when they arrived, they found the couple was under the influence of alcohol and the home was in deplorable conditions with more than 100 animals in 88 cages. It was later confirmed that around 298 animals in total were found, including snakes, lizards, rats, mice, birds, rabbits and hamsters.

According to reports, while deputies were at the home, a note was discovered from a relative which said the relative had picked up the child and taken her to their home, because they could not wake O'Neil, and the child was crying. The girl was located with the relative unharmed and is properly being cared for, deputies said.

Deputies said the animals were being bred and sold without the proper licensing and conditions.

Joyce Kovac's, Jennifer's mother, said the animals belonged to her daughter and her boyfriend who were living in her house. She also said she is relieved to see the animals confiscated by the SPCA.

"I've been begging my daughter and her boyfriend that it was getting out of control...rats continually breed," Joyce said. "You wouldn't want to be in a cage for three days or four days with poop."

The mother said the rats were meant to feed snakes including two eight-foot pythons.

SPCA officials described the conditions inside the house as 'deplorable,' with a strong odor and filthy cages throughout the house, including the bedrooms.

"I would feed and water them, tried my best to try to keep up with it but like I said I'm 63-years-old and it's really tough to do and like I said this is has been a blessing..this is the best thing that could've happened for these things," Joyce said.

Neighbors said there was sometimes an odor that came from the home but they had no idea there were so many animals inside.

The Oldsmar couple was arrested for child abuse and animal cruelty and was transported to the Pinellas County Jail.

SPCA removed the animals from the home.

Animals identified so far include:

  • 7 Burmese Pythons
  • 20 Unknown Types of Snakes
  • 7 Monitor Lizards
  • 100 (Approx) Bearded Lizards
  • 2 Scorpion Spiders (Dead)
  • 100 (Approx) Rats and Mice
  • Finch-Birds
  • Rabbits
  • Guinea Pigs
  • Squirrels
  • Hamsters
  • Gerbils
  • Hedgehogs

Deputies said three rats and one hamster were found dead and half consumed by other animals kept in the house. The animals were kept outside and throughout the home. One of the lizards was believed to have burrowed in the backyard and was in the process of being located and removed.

The investigation continues.