Animal officer, deputy found near-toxic air in Willow Spring home

Nov. 30--WILLOW SPRING -- Authorities encountered near-toxic levels of ammonia in the air inside a mobile home when they went there Nov. 19 to investigate a report of animals being kept in unhealthy conditions, according to a search warrant.

Wake County Animal Control Officer C.L. Kinley said in asking for the warrant to search the trailer where Alma Dale Kilgore, 64, lives at 2360 Eddie Howard Road that he and Deputy Sheriff M.A. Surovick had been there on Nov. 19 after officials got a report that 39 cats and nine dogs were being mistreated by being kept in unhealthy conditions.

They found cats with eye and skin problems and dogs with skin problems, feces on the floor, "not the proper food and water and no adequate room for the dogs to move around."

There also was a strong ammonia odor, and Finley called Fuquay-Varina firefighters, who in turn summoned a hazardous materials special unit from the Raleigh Fire Department, Kinley said.

"Raleigh Hazmat arrived and registered readings of 195 ppm (parts per million) of ammonia in the residence," Finley's application stated. "Raleigh Hazmat advised me that 25 ppm is dangerous ... and also 200 ppm was considered toxic."

Kilgore was charged on Nov. 23 with four counts of misdemeanor cruelty to animals, according to county records. Finley asked a magistrate on Nov. 24 for the warrant to search the home.

"Additional animals remain in the residence which need to be removed for their safety and to be examined for any infectious diseases. Ms. Kilgore is not in [a] position to care for the animals any longer," the warrant application said.

Finley went to the trailer on the morning of Nov. 25 and took away six more cats, according to the search warrant that was returned to the court clerk's office last Wednesday.

Ron Gallagher: 919-829-4572, @RPGKT

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