For years, families along one Florida mail route may have had no idea what was happening after some neighborhood cats disappeared.

Then a complaint about an allegedly taken cat led investigators to the home of a 77-year-old postal worker.

What deputies found inside was so extreme that firefighters in hazardous-materials gear had to help make entry possible.

On July 20, authorities removed 80 cats and 12 dogs from the Stuart-area home of Gail Giustino. Some animals were locked in cages.

The house lacked functioning air conditioning, had minimal ventilation, and animal waste accumulated to a depth of one foot in some areas.

Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek called it the worst animal-hoarding case he has seen in his county.

During the search warrant execution, deputies discovered the home was filled with cages and animals. Interior temperatures were estimated at over 100 degrees Fahrenheit—some reports indicated nearly 110 degrees. Firefighters used hazardous-materials equipment to ventilate the structure safely.

Investigators found no dead animals during the initial search, though officials noted one animal may have been injured by excessive flea spray use.

Giustino surrendered approximately 15 animals to veterinary facilities and shelters in the week before deputies entered her home. Authorities are still checking if she left additional animals with other organizations.

The case began when a complaint arose about a postal worker taking cats along her delivery route. Initially, authorities believed many of the animals were feral. However, after rescue, microchips and frantic calls from families revealed that at least five animals belonged to owners who had been searching for them for months.

Giustino has a history of animal care violations; officials reported she received dozens of civil citations about a decade ago over similar issues. At that time, she installed window air conditioners but later stopped using them.

She was charged with one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty and one count involving confinement without sufficient exercise. Her bond is set at $50,000.

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office Animal Services Division, the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast, and Martin County Fire Rescue collaborated on the operation. Families are encouraged to file lost-pet reports with the sheriff’s office to identify their missing pets among the rescued animals.

Giustino appears to believe she was helping the animals but has become unable to provide proper care. Sheriff Budensiek stated that while deputies could have pursued more charges, they aimed to rescue the animals and place them in a situation where intervention and accountability could occur without further harm.