He Just Looks Guilty

Responding to a report of animal cruelty, authorities found dozens of living and dead animals in a home infested with fleas, maggots and rotting carcasses. The owners — a woman and her adult son — were charged with animal cruelty.

"It has to be the worst case of animal abuse in the history of Vermont," according to an Animal Control Officer. Five cats, two ferrets, a lizard, a gecko, a rabbit, a python, a gerbil, a tarantula, a chinchilla, a guinea pig, a tortoise, a mouse and a malnourished dog were rescued. Found dead were an iguana, a white rat, a hedgehog and at least 15 cats and kittens in various stages of decomposition. Also found was a decomposing animal of unknown type in a pot on a stove. More than a dozen partially frozen dead animals were found in a refrigerator freezer. The animals had been denied food and medical care. Pauline Harpin (70) and son Paul Harpin (41) were charged with animal cruelty and cited.

"The stench was overwhelming, between the urine and feces. As soon as you step in, you're covered head to toe with fleas."

On Wednesday, authorities served a search warrant on the house after receiving a report of severe animal cruelty and threats allegedly made by Paul Harpin (yes, that's him in the picture) to shoot anyone who tried to take the animals. Inside, they found neglected animals including a 4-year-old Labrador mix who had apparently been living amid filth and water in a basement since it was three months old. "She's as starved for affection as she is food. She still has diarrhea." One cat had an upper respiratory infection, and a tortoise was found with a deformed shell.

Pauline Harpin, who was covered in flea bites, had to be decontaminated by a hazardous materials crew before being taken by ambulance to a hospital. Animal Control and a veterinarian who responded to the scene also had to be decontaminated.

The Harpins signed voluntary surrender forms allowing the live animals to be removed and adopted once they are rehabilitated. For now, the animals are in town custody. The Harpins, meanwhile, are staying at a motel after being advised to stay out of the house until it is cleaned. Animal cruelty is punishable by up to $2,000 in fines and a year in jail.

And let that be a lesson to anybody who thinks my place is messy. That, and don't trust people who bave basically the same name who are mother and son.