TAMPA -- Authorities are investigating what they said was one of the most bizarre animal cruelty cases they have ever seen.
Hillsborough County Animal Services said they found numerous dead exotic animals inside a Citrus Park apartment.
Authorities said apartment managers went inside on a maintenance call, and were shocked by what they saw.
“It was a two-bedroom, two-bath apartment, and there wasn’t one single inch of carpeting that didn’t have feces,” said Pam Perry, with Animal Services.
Some live animals were also found. Two wolf-hybrid dogs were removed immediately.
Investigators said the dogs were muzzled, emaciated and filthy, unable to eat or drink.
Authorities said they found dozens upon dozens of dead animals, including spiders, snakes, lizards, rabbits and mice.
The animals were stuffed into drawers, trash bags and a freezer.
“Other closets we found, it wasn’t even discernable what they were,” Perry said.
Winston Tsai, 29, was charged with three counts of felony animal cruelty, with more charges pending. Authorities said he offered no explanation.
“He was found in a bedroom playing a video game, with dead and dying animals everywhere in the apartment,” Perry said.
Several of the animals found alive were taken to be hydrated and kept under heat lamps. Animal Services hopes to save the few of them.
Investigators said the situation appeared to have been going on for months, based on the condition of the animals.
If the surviving animals recover, Animal Services said they can all be adopted -- even the tarantulas.
Hillsborough County Animals Services said it plans to ask the courts for an order forbidding Tsai from having any live animals in the future.
Information from News 13’s Bright House Networks affiliate, Bay News 9, was used in this report.
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