A Warren woman is facing more than 10 counts of animal cruelty after 20 dogs and four turtles were discovered living in deplorable conditions inside her home during a drug investigation.

Watch Carli Petrus's video report: Warren woman faces animal cruelty charges after 24 animals rescued

The Macomb County Sheriff's Office arrested 57-year-old Michelle Reyntiens on Thursday while executing a search warrant on her Hobart Avenue home as part of an investigation led by their undercover drug task force, the Sheriff's Enforcement Team, known as "SET."

During the search, officers discovered 11 puppies, nine adult dogs, and four turtles living in what officials described as poor conditions.

"This was a lot of animals in one small, confined area that was in pretty bad shape," said Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel.

Hackel said he and animal control immediately responded to help rescue the animals.

"When we got there, all hands on deck. We were there trying to figure out, okay, how do we bring them out, one at a time, and super sweet dogs, but you could tell, they were very unkempt, some of them needed some medical attention," Hackel said.

All 24 animals are now being cared for at the Macomb County Animal Control Shelter, where they're receiving grooming and medical attention before becoming available for adoption.

Web extra: Dogs rescued from Warren home Web extra: Dogs rescued from Warren home

Kennel Technician Anna Young said many of the animals required urgent care upon arrival.

"We were dealing with overgrown nails, pretty heavy matting, and urine staining in the fur," Young said.

With 11 puppies among the rescued animals, reuniting them with their mothers presented an additional challenge for shelter staff.

"It was difficult in the beginning because the moms who were close to the puppies know they're scared and they're being protective, so they want their puppies to stay with them, but slowly we were able to figure out what puppies should go where and the moms," Young said.

Young said staff eventually identified three mother dogs and successfully reunited them with their puppies.

The four turtles found at the home were in better condition than the dogs, but are still too young for adoption, according to Young.

"The turtles are in much better condition than the dogs were, but they're still very young, so we have to care for them until they can reach age and size so they can be able to get adopted," Young said.

A neighbor who asked not to be identified said she was shocked to learn about the conditions inside the home.

"It's sad to know that they were not being taken care of. That just breaks my heart," the neighbor said.

Young said all the animals are already showing improvement and becoming more comfortable around people.

Reyntiens is being held in the Macomb County Jail with bond set at $30,000. Her next court date is scheduled for Feb. 26.

Hackel said the public can help by donating money or supplies to assist with medical expenses, grooming, and feeding costs for the rescued animals.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

As Valentine's Day approaches, love is in the air, and so are higher prices. From roses to candy, the cost of celebrating is rising.

Watch Carli's report below

Why it may be a little more expensive to celebrate Valentine's Day in 2026

Between all the chocolate and flowers, there's no denying that Valentine's Day has a real impact on our wallets. And if it feels like celebrating the day of love is costing more than ever, you're not imagining it.

"We would usually just go out to dinner and then go home, go watch a movie and open some presents," said Ren Phillips.

In previous years, we have splurged and gone to the restaurant on top of the Ren-Cen," said Phillip Bunker.

According to Consumer Price Index data, Valentine's Day-related costs are up about 30 percent since 2021. And consumers I spoke with say that's why they're changing up their plans for the year.

We dont want to spend a lot of money at this time," Phillips said.

Phillips tells me that she and her partner are going to keep it more "low-key."

"Were not doing any presents this year. Its really just stay home and just cook together and maybe bake something," Phillips said.

As for Bunker, he said he and his partner are having to get more creative.

I dont want to spill the beans but it might be a little smaller bouquet, you know, a hand-written card, instead of one purchased from the store, and it may be some hand-made gifts," Bunker said.

And local businesses in metro Detroit are feeling the price hikes too, including David Ogloza, owner of Quix Chocolate in Ferndale.

In about three and a half years, the price of our chocolate has nearly doubled," Ogloza said. We had some shortages in the cocoa market about over a year ago, and that definitely has worked its way through to me, and then obviously the end user. So, I have to say,y for this year our pricing for our Valentines Day chocolate boxes is maybe a few dollars more than they were last year.

David isn't the only chocolatier feeling this impact.

It definitely is and you will find that some stores and maybe even the bigger brands, especially, you may have seen articles about them using less chocolate in their products and focusing more on sugary candies instead," Ogloza said.

As for flowers, Michael Fraley, one of the new owners of Tiffany Florist, a longtime flower shop in Birmingham, said we're now seeing the impact of tariffs.

Weve seen a pretty high increase in flowers coming from Europe," Fraley said.

And although flowers cost more, Fraley said he's not passing that cost down to his customers.

"Yes, we did $8 a stem then. Something like red roses on Valentines Day you have to have. So, we are probably making a little less profit on them than we did last year," Fraley said.

But even with higher prices, couples say love isn't about what's in the box or the bouquet.

I really think the proof of a really strong relationship on Valentines is just spending time together and doing activities together and sharing experiences together, rather than sharing items if that makes sense.

Where Your Voice Matters

Employees at a Sterling Heights Wendy's say they've been working without heat for years, forcing them to wear multiple layers and coats while serving customers.

Alexis Martin, who works at the Wendy's near 18 Mile and Ryan roads, said the restaurant has been without proper heating for two to three years.

Watch Carli Petrus' video report below: Sterling Heights Wendy's employees say they've worked without heat for years

"Every time I come in here, I always have my hoodie on, I have a shirt on underneath my work shirt, I always wear my coat and gloves if I have it," Martin said.

Martin said the cold conditions are so severe that employees can see their breath in the bathroom. She said complaints have been made to the franchise owners multiple times over the years, but nothing has been done.

"It's every day that people are complaining about us not having heat," Martin said.

The situation prompted Martin's mother, Angel, to contact 7 News Detroit for help. Angel Martin previously worked at the restaurant and said she's concerned about her daughter's safety.

"I don't want her to get frostbite, you know. I know the temperatures have been crazy lately and I worried about her all the last couple weeks working," Angel Martin said.

When contacted about the issue, a Wendy's corporate spokesperson said ensuring a safe and comfortable work environment is their highest priority.

"We are aware heat is partially working at this restaurant, and our teams have been on-site today to address the issue," the spokesperson said.

However, when I asked Alexis Martin if corporate representatives had visited the restaurant as promised, she said no one had come in.

"No, I spoke to my manager about that and several other employees that have been here all day and they've said nobody has come in at all," Martin said.

When I visited the restaurant to speak with the manager, he said he wasn't allowed to speak with me. Calls to the franchise owners have not been returned.

Angel Martin said she hopes the issue gets resolved quickly for all the employees trying to make a living.

"I just hope that it gets fixed and they can correct it as soon as possible. I mean, I know things like that aren't cheap but you still have people trying to make a living," she said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

An Eastpointe mother is warning other parents about the hidden dangers of sledding after her 10-year-old daughter suffered severe injuries in an accident at a local park.

Jennifer's daughter Cheyenne was sledding at Spindler Park on a Friday afternoon when what started as a fun winter day quickly turned into a terrifying emergency. The girl went down the back side of the hill, despite warning signs, and crashed into nearby poles.

Watch Carli Petrus' video report below: Eastpointe mother warns of sledding dangers after daughter's severe injuries

"I never would have thought they would have gotten hurt sledding like we go every year, we've always went," Jennifer said.

The accident left Cheyenne with a Stage 3 liver laceration that is almost a Stage 4, along with a severe concussion and possible brain damage due to brain swelling, according to Jennifer.

"I got a call that Cheyenne, you know, she was hurt, she was hurt bad," Jennifer said.

Watch our extended interview with Jennifer below: Extended interview: Mom talks about daughter's severe injuries after sledding accident

Now Jennifer is urging other parents to think twice before letting their children go sledding.

"I have heard of a broken arm over the weekend, and on the other side of the hill as well, someone hit a tree, someone went through the fence it's repetitive injury," Jennifer said.

The city of Eastpointe acknowledged awareness of the sledding activity on the hill. A spokesperson said in a statement: "While signage speaks to the risks of sledding on the hill, the City works to keep the hill as safe as possible, with staff routinely ensuring there are hay bales, fencing, and safety measures in place. We have empathy for the child and family involved, and will work to continue to make our parks and public spaces as safe as possible for all users."

Dr. Aamna Hafeez at Henry Ford Hospital says the best way to stay safe is to know the risks and take precautions.

"Sledding can definitely be a fun activity, but there are risks associated with it and those injuries can range from minor bumps and bruises all the way to severe head trauma," Hafeez said.

The doctor recommends families take safety precautions, with head protection being the most important.

"So, there's absolutely some precautions families can take in terms of safety for their children sledding. The most important being some sort of protection for their heads, so whether that's a helmet or a ski helmet or a biking helmet, either of those options because really what you're trying to do is prevent brain injuries," Hafeez said.

William Hirsch, who was at Spindler Park with his two young daughters, said sledding is an activity they enjoy regularly.

"It's something the kids love to do. It's an activity that gets us outside, gets us outdoors and something to do to have fun," Hirsch said.

He says he makes sure his girls are safe by going down the hill with them, making sure they're not going toward anything harmful.

"Sometimes, you slip and fall down, but you have to get back up, you know. It's a learning lesson," Hirsch said.

For Jennifer, her message is simple: awareness.

"It can happen, like I said, at any hill. Just because it was at this one doesn't mean that it can't happen at the one down the street from your house, right. So, just be aware," Jennifer said. "I just want these kids and people to be safe in general because it's scary."

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

As we continue News Literacy Week, we're lifting up the voice of one Birmingham librarian. She is making it her mission to make sure students learn how to separate fact from fiction early on.

The library at Birmingham Covington School recently turned into a full-on news literacy adventure with different learning stations and students led their families through each one to learn how to think critically about the information they see every day.

Watch Carli Petrus' video report below: Librarian hosts news literacy for kids and familys

Students at Birmingham Covington School are signing the news literacy pledge promising to pause, question, and verify before believing or sharing information.

Its never too young to start these skills," said Laura Amatulli, the librarian who organized the literacy night event.

It's designed for third and fourth graders and their families, and the goal is simple.

"To learn how to slow down, think critically, and ask smart questions before trusting and sharing information," said Amatulli.

Amatulli says this is especially important as artificial intelligence, or AI, becomes more prevalent in our lives.

"Were building habits of asking good questions. We want students to think, 'who created this? Why was this picture made?' Or 'why was this article made? What evidence supports this article?' and these critical thinking skills give them a lifelong piece in their toolbox," she said.

And it seems like those lessons are already sticking for fourth grader Melia Farr.

"How do you make sure what youre looking at is truthful? I asked.

"Well, its hard to make sure, but you have to like think about it and make sure it is, because its important, because if its not factual, then its not really that useful," she said.

Melia attended the event with her mom, Jasmine Farr, who says growing up, the news looked very different.

I remember getting the newspaper twice a day and it came on your porch and that was kind of it, you just took that for what it was but now we have it on internet, we have it on social media, youre getting it from left and right and all these different forms, you have to find out what really is the news," said Jasmine.

Jasmine says she wants her daughter to stay on the offense as AI technology continues to advance and she believes events like this one give kids the tools they need to do just that.

"It takes a village so schools cant do it alone, parents cant do it alone, and children definitely cant do it on their own so we all have to come together collectively and make sure that theyre protected, that theyre safe, that theyre learning and we can all do it together as a community," said Jasmine.