Philip Daniel Heatley, 23, and Courtney Lynn Heatley, 22, were released on personal recognizance bonds.
The couple was also charged with two counts of unlawful conduct towards a child.
"The defendant and co-defendant both knowingly describe the animals of necessary sustenance or shelter resulting in numerous animals having met their demise. Defendant also subjected her own two minor children, eight-month-old and a five-year-old, to deplorable and unsanitary living conditions," said Magistrate Otis Prioleau.
Investigators say two children were also found living in "deplorable conditions" in a small camper on the property. Both children are currently in protective custody and the Heatleys are not allowed to communicate with them.
The Berkeley County Sheriff's Office arrested the Heatleys after dozens of dead animals were found on a property in Moncks Corner.
Deputies say they conducted a welfare check at the home on Honey Bee Drive in Moncks Corner. They were told there was a vulnerable elderly adult in the home, but when they got there they found an 80-year-old woman that wasn't in danger, but the woman told them there was a dead dog in her shed.
Officials say deputies got the woman's permission to search and found the carcasses of more than 30 ANIMALS -- a dog, ducks, chickens, a goat, a pony, rabbits and several other animals that couldn't be identified.
In addition to the charges from the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has charged Philip Heatley with game violations.
MEANWHILE...
Veterinarians at the Doc Williams SPCA are assessing the needs of nine animals rescued from a Moncks Corner woman's home where the carcasses of at least 30 other animals were found.
The nine animals are in very different conditions.
"She's scared to death," said Amanda Hayes, shelter director, of the 3-month old Australian Shepherd. "This one doesn't seem as underweight, she's much better, she's in a much better health condition than him."
Hayes is referring to Sullivan, a Great Dane also found at the Berkeley County home.
"It's a one to five, five being obese, one being optimal," said Hayes. "I'd put him at one, one-and-a-half, tops. He still has some muscle tone but very little."
Of the survivors, Sullivan is in the worst condition. Shelter veterinarian Dr. David Klugman said until full test results come back, it's hard to know if Sullivan is in this shape from a medical condition or neglect.
"You can't get much thinner than that and still be alive," said Klugman. "I'd have to say that Great Dane was on its way to being buried in that yard pretty soon if it didn't get medical attention."
Sullivan is now in the care of a private medical foster. A foster home is also where two geckos and a bearded dragon will go. There were obvious injuries to the bearded dragon.
"The wrist and hand part is gone," said Hayes. "On the left front and the right rear, he seems to be missing a left foot."
Klugman said it could be trauma or malnutrition that caused the extremity loss. But, he said he's referring this case to a reptile specialist.
"Overall, these guys came out fairly unscathed from the situation," Klugman said after evaluating the four kittens. He said aside from fleas and parasites, which is commonly found in kittens, they are well hydrated and playing. He's not sure they come from the same litter.
"If everything they found on site was as thin as the Great Dane, I would tell you this is an obvious case of neglect going into outright abuse, okay? But to have these kittens be as well fed as they are, it's difficult to say for sure that that's what's going on."
As for the bones found on the property, Klugman said that's a different storyone official will have to determine. The nine animals are currently on legal hold and cannot be adopted. Many will remain in foster care until a decision is made.
It will likely take a few days for test results, which will help narrow down the exact condition of the animals.
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