LAUDERHILL, Fla. — About four years ago, a police officer found two American Staffordshire terriers suffering in a house covered in feces in Lauderhill, records show.

The dog owners, Angela Taylor and Mykel Jones, had abandoned both dogs in the house with fire damage along Northwest 54 Terrace, near 14 Place, according to police.

When the police officer found them on May 18, 2022, one of the dogs, named “Secret,” a female, was infected with fleas, her bones were showing through her skin, and her hind legs had an infection, according to the police officer’s report.

The other dog named “Smoke,” a 15-year-old male, was in a more stable condition, although suffering from a hematoma on both ears, according to the police officer’s report.

The Broward County Animal Care and Adoption Division reported euthanizing both dogs “due to significant medical conditions identified at intake."

Taylor, 60, was arrested on Sunday, and corrections booked her at the Broward County Main Jail in Fort Lauderdale, according to inmate records.

Taylor appeared in court on Monday, facing charges of aggravated animal cruelty and tormenting, depriving, mutilating, or killing an animal. Her bond was $5,000.

This is a developing story. Local 10 News Assignment Editor Mariana Ortiz contributed to this report.

Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.