A Bath woman was arrested after police say five children and several animals were removed from a home described as having unsafe and unsanitary living conditions.
34-year-old Chelsey Babcock was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and failure to provide proper sustenance to animals, both Class A misdemeanors, according to the Village of Bath Police Department.
Officers responded to a residence on Geneva Street on January 28th for a welfare check after receiving a report about poor conditions inside the home. Upon arrival, police said they found five children and multiple animals living in what they described as unhealthy conditions.
Child Protective Services and the Finger Lakes SPCA were contacted. Authorities removed the children and the animals from the home.
Police said the animals taken included seven dogs, two potbelly pigs, one cat, and several reptiles. The animals are now in the care of the Finger Lakes SPCA and will be made available for adoption. Anyone interested in adopting is encouraged to contact the organization directly.
The children’s care is now being overseen by Child Protective Services.
Babcock was processed at the scene and transported to the Steuben County Jail for arraignment. She was later released.
The investigation remains ongoing.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
