Eight Micanopy residents charged with cruelty to animals, including 19 malnourished dogs and 5 dead puppies

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BY JENNIFER CABRERA

Four Micanopy residents had been arrested yesterday afternoon and sworn complaints had been filed towards 4 extra residents within the space after investigators discovered 19 malnourished dogs, two dead puppies, and three pet skeletons.

Alachua County Sheriff’s deputies and Alachua County Animal Control responded to the 17400 block of SW CR 234 yesterday after a report of animal cruelty and discovered numerous dogs in “obviously frail and neglected condition.” They reported that “several dogs could be heard yelping and wailing in physical pain.”

They reported that they noticed younger puppies mendacity within the driveway, too weak to bodily stand on their very own. Other “extremely malnourished” dogs had been round the home. All dogs additionally had numerous fleas and ticks, “with flies circling them.”

The 4 who had been arrested – Erin Douglas, William Garcia, Dawson Hicks, and Kimberly Hicks – are residents of the handle the place the dogs had been discovered. Steven Lancaster lives in a camper on the property. William Ferguson, Sr., and Debra Ferguson reside subsequent door and stated they help within the care and custody of the dogs, and Stephanie Prentzler lives in a shed on the property subsequent door.

According to the report, investigators discovered 19 dogs alive, alongside with 5 dead dogs, three of which had been skeletal stays solely. Three residing puppies had been present in a cage with the 2 dead puppies. The residing puppies had been mendacity on prime of the dead animals, which had been within the water bowl contained in the cage. The cage and water bowl each had apparent mildew on them. Two different dogs had been present in cages within the wooden with none meals or water. One feminine canine had a number of puppies who had been too weak to stand on their very own; the feminine canine was malnourished and injured however was nonetheless making an attempt to look after the puppies and pull them below a car to get out of the rain.

Six extra dogs had been inside the home, which didn’t seem to have electrical energy or operating water besides in a single bed room, however the dogs didn’t have entry to that room. According to the report, animal feces littered the home, and there have been holes within the flooring. Large quantities of trash littered the entrance yard, and the camper had an open waste line that poured human feces straight onto the bottom.

Investigators concluded that every one animals on the property “showed signs of a long-term lack of care and treatment for their lives. The lack of food, water, clean or adequate shelter, and veterinary care directly led to the condition of and death of several of the dogs on the property. All residents on the property assisted in the animals receiving the treatment they did and were directly responsible for their care yet all failed to take action to protect these animals from death and unnecessary pain and suffering. Their pain and suffering was shown not only through their physical ailments but also by yelping heard from multiple animals.”

Erin Alexandra Douglas, 27, has been arrested and charged with 24 counts of aggravated animal cruelty (all Third-degree felonies) and 5 counts of illegal disposal of a dead animal. Post Miranda, she reportedly stated she had just lately moved again into the residence after being gone for a number of months and that a number of of the dogs had been hers.

Debra Ann Ferguson, 63, has been charged with 24 counts of aggravated animal cruelty and 5 counts of illegal disposal of a dead animal by way of sworn grievance.

William Okay. Ferguson, Sr., 69, has been charged with 24 counts of aggravated animal cruelty and 5 counts of illegal disposal of a dead animal by way of sworn grievance.

William Cecil Garcia, 27, has been arrested and charged with 24 counts of aggravated animal cruelty and 5 counts of illegal disposal of a dead animal. Post Miranda, he reportedly stated he had lived on the home since December of 2021 and that he feeds the animals at occasions, alongside with the opposite residents. He additionally reportedly instructed deputies that the three skeletons belonged to three puppies that had died a few month in the past when it was chilly and that they had been buried behind a camper on the property. The investigators reported that three small canine skeletons had been discovered above floor in that space.

Clayton Andrew Green, 39, is listed as a co-defendant and a resident of the property the place the dogs had been discovered, however no expenses are listed right now.

Dawson Alan Hicks, 22, has been arrested and charged with 24 counts of aggravated animal cruelty and 5 counts of illegal disposal of a dead animal.