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Md. Man Charged With 134 Counts Of Animal Cruelty

PASADENA, Md. (WJZ)—A 21-year-old Anne Arundel County man is now being charged with more than 100 counts of animal cruelty after numerous animals, including a "honey bear" and chinchilla, were removed from his home last month.

Christie Ileto has the latest on the headline-making hoarding case.

About 40 animals once called Shane Taylor's Pasadena residence home. Now it sits nearly empty.

The people who came to the door had little to say to our cameras.

"No comment," one person said.

Police say Taylor is facing 134 counts of animal cruelty, after authorities seized dozens of animals from his home during a September raid.

Animal control first came to the home in August to remove animals that could transfer rabies, and tell Taylor to improve the living conditions for the other animals. When that didn't happen, authorities came back in September.

"The animals were taken care of," Taylor said earlier this month, insisting he did nothing wrong.

He told WJZ that he was operating a make-shift rescue facility, accepting sick animals at his home to nurse them back to health.

"You have situations where people will take animals originally with great intentions but over time becomes overwhelming. Unfortunately, they're unable to take care of these animals," said Justin Mulcahy, Anne Arundel County Police.

Police say the animals taken from Taylor include two dogs, one cat, two turtles, seven birds, four chickens, a goat, a pig, a chinchilla, three snakes, 12 aquatic animals, three geese, a duck, a tarantula and a kinkajou–also known as "honey bear." There was even a dead rabbit.

But neighbor Sandy Freeburger says authorities got it all wrong.

"He's a nice boy," she said. "I don't believe any of it because he took good care of the animals. He played in the backyard with them."

Taylor's animals have since been relocated to rescue facilities, while others continue to receive medical treatment.

After police filed a warrant earlier this week, Taylor turned himself in. He is out on bond. Authorities say the animals seized are not ready for adoption.

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