A South Carolina couple was arrested after officials found their baby in "horrific conditions" with living animals, piles of trash, and the carcass of a goat.
The suspects were identified as Kayla Renard and Nicholas Foley, who were taken into custody after police received calls of concern from the Department of Social Services (DSS). The agency said the family was believed to have been living with an eight-month-old infant in an "unsafe environment."
Baby Living With Animals and Dead Goat
In a statement, Honea Path Police Chief Chris Miller said they have never seen such a horrific situation in their more than 30 years of service. They added that the family was living in unsanitary conditions with many animals.
Police responded to the home on South Shirley Avenue on May 19, 2025, where they discovered a troubling scene. Miller said after one of their officers entered the house, they found piles of trash and animal feces spread around, according to the Independent.
Officials found different types of animals inside the residence, including raccoons, chickens, cats, and dogs. They added that they also discovered the dead body of a goat that was rotting in the bathtub of the bathroom that had been decomposing for several days.
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When police found animal feces and waste scattered around the house, they determined that the child was in severe unsafe and unsanitary conditions that put them at risk. The case prompted police to contact Dr. Kim Sanders of the Anderson County PAWS and ask for assistance.
They then worked to safely remove more than 40 animals from the home and officials took the eight-month-old child and placed them in the care of a relative. Authorities also charged the parents with unlawful conduct toward a child and ill-treatment of animals, Fox Carolina reported.
Arrest of the Parents
Miller said that when officers found the parents, they were sitting inside the residence calm and without emotion or notable facial expressions. Officials noted that the parents were booked into the Anderson County Detention Center after their arrest and have been given $10,000 surety bonds each.
Sanders said that just the amount of feces and ammonia that was in the home would have made it very difficult for anyone to breathe. She added that when they visited the residence, there were no bowls for water, describing the conditions as "disgusting."
She noted that it was difficult for her to see the animals in that sort of condition and that it was rewarding to be able to take them away, as per Too Fab.
