Makayla Leann Brehm, 20, of Prince Frederick
Filo Joseph Blake, 43, of Prince Frederick; Katie Renee Blake, 45, of Prince Frederick; and Makayla Leann Brehm, 20, of Prince Frederick, are facing misdemeanor animal cruelty-related charges in Calvert County District Court after authorities alleged about 95 animals were seized from an Arthur King Road property in Prince Frederick on May 7, 2026.
Court records show the cases were filed May 14, 2026, remain open, and are scheduled for preliminary inquiry hearings on June 29, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. in Courtroom 2 at Calvert District Court.
Filo Joseph Blake is charged across two related court filings with a total of 90 misdemeanor counts involving animal cruelty and animal cruelty failure to provide. The allegations involve numerous animals, including reptiles, kittens, arachnids, ducks, goslings, chickens, turkeys, roosters, hens, a goose-type bird, goats, a pig, a cat, and dogs.
Katie Renee Blake is charged with 44 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty or animal cruelty failure to provide. Her charges include allegations involving pekin ducks, gosling-type birds, pullet-type chickens, duckling-type birds, turkey-like birds, roosters, hens, goose-type birds, goats, a pig, a cat, and a dog.
Makayla Leann Brehm is charged with 12 misdemeanor counts, including three counts of animal cruelty and nine counts of animal cruelty failure to provide. Her charges involve a bearded dragon-type lizard, domestic short-haired-type kittens, and a ball python-type snake, according to court documents.
According to charging documents filed by an animal control officer with the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation began on May 6, 2026, when the officer responded to the area of Arthur King Road to look for two Labrador-type dogs running loose. The officer wrote that Brehm approached and asked whether animal control had custody of her dogs. The officer said Brehm was told another animal control officer had a black Labrador-type dog and that she could go to the Linda Kelley Animal Shelter to reclaim it.
The officer reported asking Brehm about a mouse and a goose previously known to animal control, and Brehm allegedly said they were “doing well.” Court documents say Brehm then allowed the officer inside the fenced area of the property and spoke about the animals there, including ducks, chickens, and goats.
The application for charges describes numerous animals of different species on the property. The officer reported seeing dead ducks near the front of the home, live ducks kept in enclosed coop-like structures without ventilation, light, water, or uncontaminated food, and several reptiles and invertebrates inside the home in dirty terrariums that allegedly lacked proper water, heat, lighting, or substrate. The officer also reported an ammonia odor inside the home and dogs with signs of hair loss.
The officer wrote that Brehm said the dogs “often will run at large and come home through the hole in the back fencing of the property.” The documents also say Brehm advised that several goats were pregnant.
On May 7, 2026, Calvert County deputies, Social Services, a State’s Attorney investigator, animal control personnel, and others returned to the Arthur King Road property with a search warrant. Court documents say Filo Blake, Katie Blake, Brehm, and another person were on the property when the warrant was served.
The officer reported seeing large koi-type fish floating in discolored pond water, burned hutches, charred bird remains, and piles containing the remains of chickens, ducks, and goats in various stages of decay.
Inside the home, the officer documented multiple enclosures containing reptiles, kittens, and arachnids. A veterinarian who examined the animals reported that a bearded dragon-type lizard was dehydrated, thin, had pale mucous membranes, and had areas of stuck shed.
Three neonatal kittens were described as thin, dehydrated, lethargic, and covered in dried feces. A ball python-type snake was described as dehydrated and affected by stuck shed, a condition the documents say can be caused by improper enclosures, malnutrition, or disease.
The charging documents say the search also included outdoor enclosures where birds, goats, a sheep, a pig, and a goose-type bird were found. The officer reported contaminated water, unsafe wire and debris, overgrown hooves, hair loss, parasites, feather loss, mites, and several dead or decaying animals and animal remains in and around the enclosures.
Court documents say Katie Blake told the officer she was “also co-owner of the animals on the property.” During the search, the officer wrote that Katie Blake raised her hand toward a dog while saying she “would punch it in the nose.” The officer wrote that Katie Blake was told that would be unacceptable. The documents also say Katie Blake later advised animal control that officers “could not approach” another dog.
Filo Blake allegedly told animal control he did not remember having animals inside one hutch-like enclosure where deceased Silky-type chickens were found. Court documents say he also said one dog’s hair loss “happens often” but that he gets the dog treated at Chesapeake Animal Clinic.
When another dog was unable to put weight on a back leg, Filo Blake allegedly said the dog “just has bad hip,” that a friend advised him to “leave it alone,” and that it had been treated in the past at Chesapeake Animal Clinic. The documents say the clinic was contacted while authorities were on scene and advised that the dogs had not been treated for those conditions.
Court documents state approximately 95 animals were seized from the Arthur King Road property and removed from the care, control, and custody of Filo Blake, Katie Blake, and Brehm. The officer wrote that, in an email and recorded phone call, Filo Blake said he was the sole owner and caretaker of the ducks, geese, goats, and sheep; that a helper cared for animals owned by Katie Blake; that Katie Blake helped care for his animals outside; that Brehm owned the ball python-type snake and larger bearded dragon-type lizard; and that he owned and cared for the rest of the exotic animals.
All three defendants were issued summonses on May 14, 2026.
