Federal agents and local authorities rescued two young children and removed dozens of animals from an unsafe duplex in Northeast Philadelphia on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.
The operation took place on the 7100 block of Whitaker Avenue, where a search warrant was executed in connection with terroristic threats made against the White House.
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According to WPVI, the children—aged 5 years and 8 months—were found living in squalid conditions with feces, fleas, trash, and no running water.
Philadelphia police and the Pennsylvania SPCA reported that the children suffered bug bites and bruises before being taken to a hospital.
Officials also removed 38 cats and one dog from the property.
Neighbor Vex Holmquist described a persistent, foul odor coming from the residence that was noticeable from across the street.
"Every time I would walk by, it would smell really bad, kitty litter and everything, and a horrible stench every time you would walk.
You could smell it from across the street," Holmquist said.
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Another resident, Jacob Holmquist, expressed deep concern over the treatment of the children and animals.
"I really don't think what they did was right. It's disgusting and I'm struggling to put it into words how awful that is," he said.
Passersby in the Oxford Circle neighborhood expressed shock after multiple city and federal agencies surrounded the home for several hours.
"We used to smell all the time a bad smell. We wondered where is it coming from.
But never thought something like this would be happening. That's crazy," one neighbor said.
According to KYW Newsradio and WPVI, a mother and father were taken into custody and face child endangerment charges.
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The Philadelphia Gas Works shut off utility service to the property as the investigation continues.
