Paige Anne O'Donnell, 62, remains in Martin County Jail on $275,000 bond after Martin County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested her Monday and executed a search warrant at her Palm City home at 1245 SW Alligator Street, where they found 36 Border Collies living in deplorable conditions. During her first appearance in court on August 11, a judge set the bail and ordered that O'Donnell may not own or possess any animals as a condition of the bond. She faces 36 third-degree felony counts of torture involving pain, serious physical injury or death, and 36 first-degree misdemeanor counts of keeping animals in an enclosure without exercise and air.
Martin County Sheriff's Office deputies and Animal Services Unit employees found the dogs living in feces-covered conditions at the home in the 1200 block of Southwest Alligator Street, near Southwest Mapp Road and south of Southwest Martin Highway. Deputies and Animal Services officers had to wear Tyvek protective clothing while working inside the home. Feces, urine-soaked materials, boxes and debris throughout the residence made the process of locating and safely removing the animals extremely challenging. An inoperable air conditioning system subjected the animals to unnecessary suffering.
Sheriff John Budensiek said that from the outside, the home appeared well-maintained, neatly groomed and fenced off. The investigation began in 2020. Throughout the investigation, O'Donnell claimed she had no more than five dogs inside the home.
All the animals were turned over to the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast in Palm City, where they are being evaluated, cleaned, treated and cared for. The Humane Society is asking for public donations toward the care of the 36 dogs.