A 34-year-old man was arrested June 15 after Martin County Sheriff’s investigators reported a dog was found dead in a cage and a number of others were in poor condition, according to records.
Jose Arreaga, of Okeechobee, was jailed on five misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals. He was released early June 16 from the Martin County Jail on $12,500 bond, a jail official said.
The case began June 3 when sheriff’s officials investigated an anonymous tip regarding animal cruelty on a farm near an address in the 16000 block of Southwest Conners Highway, just east of Lake Okeechobee near Port Mayaca.
Investigators encountered a female dog named Gorda that was a bit underweight, though “heavily overburdened with fleas,” records show.
The remains of a decomposed dog were in a cage. Bowls in the cage were filled with sand, indicating they’d been empty for some time, records show.
Another dog, a male Anatolian Shepherd, was found “collapsed under a tractor.” That dog looked “so emaciated that it gave the appearance that he was deceased and in decomposition as he laid on the ground,” records show. The pooch appeared to be in great pain, and investigators found no signs of food or water in the area.
Investigators took to the dog to the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast where it weighed 54 lbs — roughly half what an average adult male of that breed should weigh. This dog and Gorda tested positive for heart worms.
Arreaga was identified as Gorda’s owner. He told investigators she had puppies under the home.
Arreaga said he lived in Okeechobee and managed the farm, saying he kept Gorda there for protection.
Arreaga reported he owned the home and everything around it, though he denied knowing about the dead dog or the emaciated one found collapsed under a tractor.
Meanwhile, another man said he kept five dogs on the property. Yet another man reported living in an apartment on the property but said he had nothing to do with the animals.
Arreaga surrendered Gorda and the three puppies, the latter described as infested with fleas and having open sores, along with a pregnant cat, which Arreaga said “just showed up” and wasn’t given a name, a report states.
At least some of the animals are at the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast, records show.
Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Dead dog in cage in Florida, others in poor condition; man arrested
Reporting by Will Greenlee, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Will Greenlee, Treasure Coast Newspapers | USA TODAY Network
