Police in Florida made a horrifying discovery Sunday morning when they found two black Labrador Retrievers dead inside a storage unit where the animals had allegedly been left in extreme heat without adequate food or water.
The Bunnell Police Department released disturbing details about the case Monday while announcing the arrest of 21-year-old Alexia Veronica Barquet.
Officers were called to the storage facility after a concerned renter reported that dog noises could usually be heard coming from a neighboring unit rented by Barquet. On Sunday morning, however, the tenant heard nothing and noticed a foul odor coming from the unit.
Police said officers also saw ants crawling underneath the door, prompting them to contact Barquet and ask her to open it.
“Barquet came to the facility and unlocked the unit,” police said in a news release. “She told officers she kept two dogs inside and consented to officers entering the unit.”
Inside, officers found two dead female black Labradors identified as Ava, 5, and Karma, 2.
Karma was found lying on the floor near a door. Ava’s body had allegedly been placed inside a black plastic bag.
According to police, Barquet said she discovered Ava dead earlier in the week, placed her remains in the bag and left the body inside the storage unit. She allegedly told officers she last checked on Karma on Friday, July 17, and provided food and water at that time.
Investigators described the unit as filthy, with the floor covered in dog feces, garbage and debris.
A portable cooling unit appeared to be running, but officers said it was not producing cold air. The inside of the unit felt no cooler than the outdoor temperature, according to police.
The heat index was approximately 96 degrees when officers entered the unit. Authorities also said the dogs’ water bowls were empty.
Barquet had reportedly been warned by local animal services in mid-March not to keep the dogs inside the storage unit, according to News 6 and Flagler Live.
She was arrested at the scene and charged with two counts of aggravated animal cruelty involving excessive pain or death. She also faces two counts related to confining or abandoning animals without adequate food, water, exercise or air.
“This is a disgusting case of animal cruelty, and these dogs died in a condition no animal should ever face,” Bunnell Police Chief David Brannon said.
“Animals depend entirely upon their owners for food, clean water, safe shelter, exercise, medical attention, and protection from dangerous conditions,” he continued. “Owning an animal carries a serious responsibility — one no person can ignore or set aside when providing care becomes difficult.”
Barquet’s bond was set at $6,000, according to Flagler County jail records reviewed by PEOPLE.
She posted bond and was released less than three hours after being taken into custody.
Why does this bitch even need dogs, if they would be in a storage unit. Horrible person!!!