Reports of what sounded like puppies whining throughout the day inside a garage led to the arrest of a Fort Myers woman on animal cruelty charges.
Ayana Lee Constantine, 37, faces 13 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty.
On June 13, Lee County sheriff’s deputies responded to Constantine’s home on Maytree Circle following reports of suspected animal neglect.
The sheriff’s office said authorities learned concerned neighbors had been hearing multiple puppies from inside the home’s garage.
Deputies discovered 13 puppies covered in dirt and feces, with no access to food, water or ventilation, the sheriff’s office said.
Authorities recorded the temperature inside the garage at 104 degrees.
During the investigation, the sheriff’s office said, Constantine arrived at the home, where authorities detained her.
Authorities also found two adult female dogs inside the home. One of the puppies, who the sheriff’s office said appeared to have an injured leg, was taken to Gulf Coast Humane Society for veterinary evaluation and is in stable condition.
Constantine was released June 14 on $130,000 bond. Her arraignment is July 1.
Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Bluesky @tomasfrodriguez.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers woman faces animal cruelty charges after authorities find 13 neglected puppies
Reporting by Tomas Rodriguez, Fort Myers News-Press / Fort Myers News-Press
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