Couple faces 70 charges of animal abuse after 69 dogs, 1 cat seized from Coast home

A Pass Christian couple was arrested Friday and charged with 70 counts of animal cruelty after law enforcement seized 69 dogs and one cat from their Pass Christian home, police said.

The arrests of Ethel Ross, 56, and Richard Ross, 68, after the animals were seized Thursday from their residence on East Second Street.

Pass Christian police were assisted by Long Beach police Animal Control, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, Pass Christian Fire Department and the Humane Society of South Mississippi in the seizure.

Many of the animals required medical care.

In a Facebook post Friday, the Gulfport animal shelter said several of the dogs are pregnant and one gave birth to nine puppies at HSSM.

HSSM is accepting monetary donations, as well as dog food, cleaning supplies and rags as they are inundated with animals.

Every individual animal carries a separate charge of animal abuse. All 70 counts are misdemeanors, police said.

This story was originally published March 11, 2022 at 12:45 PM.