There’s no question that many people have a strong affinity for animals. People often love their pets so much they consider them part of the family. It’s a very natural and common bond, which is wonderful. Things can become less than wonderful, however, if people start accumulating multiple animals and can no longer safely manage them. Sandra Teague, a 58-year-old mom from Palm Coast, Florida, is a huge animal lover. So much so that when one of her dogs died, she allegedly became enraged and decided to abandon her three kids at a hospital because she blamed them for its death. When deputies from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office responded, the kids told them a sad story.
Teague’s 17-year-old son walked into the hospital for help.
According to a release from the sheriff’s office published on social media, Teague’s son reportedly walked into AdventHealth Palm Coast Hospital on April 30 asking for assistance. The 17-year-old alleged that Teague had dropped him and his 14-year-old and 13-year-old siblings at the hospital following the death of a dog. The juveniles only wore socks, no shoes, and claimed their mother blamed them for the foster dog’s death and said, “This is the last straw.”
The juveniles claimed their mother had acted erratically in the past.
Though they admitted she’d never driven them somewhere to abandon them, she apparently had a hard time controlling her anger. Her children claimed that Teague would often lock them out of the house and make them sleep outside when she became upset with them. Deputies knew they needed to speak to the mother and went to her Palm Coast residence. What they found shocked them.
Investigators obtained a search warrant for the family’s home.
Once inside, they found Teague had 44 live dogs, three live pigs, a live cat, and a live snake inside the home, according to the news release. Palm Coast Animal Control removed the live animals from the home and found multiple kennels containing dead animals.
According to the deputies, the home reeked of garbage, and animal feces covered the floors and walls. This sparked concern about the children’s safety and an investigation by the Florida Department of Children and Families, which arrived shortly thereafter.
Teague remains in jail without bond.
Deputies arrested Teague, who faces three counts of child neglect. Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly blasted Teague’s parenting and homemaking skills.
“Based on this investigation, she will never receive a mother of the year award,” he shared in the news release. “No child should ever have to live in these disgusting conditions or be treated like this.”
He added that in his opinion, Teague is not fit to care for anyone. “Not only does she not treat or care for her children properly, but she should never own or be a foster provider for helpless animals ever again,” Staly shared.
Even though this is a sad story, taking the kids to a hospital was probably the best decision Teague could have made at the time. No child deserves to live like an animal, no matter how much their mother loves dogs.
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
