Teen Found Living with Dozens of Animals, Some Dead, After Parents Leave for Vacation

A shocking case out of Union, South Carolina has ignited concerns over animal welfare and child neglect after police found a 17-year-old girl left home alone with nearly 60 animals—some of them dead. According to WRDW, Alicia Marie Capps and Justin Bowen Capps allegedly left for Florida and abandoned their daughter in a home filled with animal feces, decomposing remains, and living pets struggling to survive.

Union Police and animal control officers arrived at the home on Park Drive on May 27 after receiving a call. The teen answered the door and, with her mother on the phone, allowed officials inside. What they found was disturbing: three dogs and 39 cats alive—many in poor conditions—plus several dead cats scattered throughout the home. Even more horrifying, 20 dead cats were discovered in an unplugged freezer.

The parents are now facing charges. Both Alicia and Justin Capps were arrested and charged with three counts of ill treatment of animals and one count of unlawful neglect of a child. They were each given a $25,000 bond.

This isn’t just a tragic story—it’s a stark reminder of how our treatment of animals reflects our societal values. No animal should ever be left in such conditions, and no child should be forced to live among that kind of suffering.

If you suspect animal neglect or cruelty, report it. Support your local shelters, adopt instead of shop, and speak up for the voiceless. Our world becomes a better place when we treat all living beings—human and animal—with the care and dignity they deserve.

Sign These Petitions! 

Please sign our latest and most urgent petitions to help the planet. Every signature counts!

• Petition: Help Dogs Like Tiki Heal—Support or Foster Today!
• Petition: Stop Congress from Silencing California’s Clean Air Standards
• Petition: Stop the Bloody Running of the Bulls in Pamplona Now

Related Content:

•  Petition Grows After Drugs and Starving Animals Found at Oregon Roadside Zoo
•  Why Wild Animals Don’t Need Toothbrushes But We Do
•  We’re On Track to Kill 6 Trillion Animals a Year, Mostly the Smallest Ones
•  Wildlife Park Raided After Shocking Reports of Starving and Neglected Animals
•  5 Ways Animals Help You Become a Better Person

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Adopt-a-Pet: Visit WildWatchers, a watchdog platform specifically designed for animal, earth, and wildlife warriors to actively give back, rescue, and protect animals and the planet.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Stand against fast fashion Pollution by supporting circular brands like Tiny Rescue, which create cause-based collections using recycled, zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade, ensuring it never ends up in a landfill.
• Shop Sustainably for Your Home: Visit SustaiNOBLE.org, an eco-friendly and ethically sourced home decor store that will empower your home with luxurious fair-trade, and sustainable products made by global artisans. 
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!