Many Americans these days treat their pets like family members.
Almost everyone is disgusted by crude acts like animal cruelty and bestiality.
But police arrested a Florida woman with 32 dogs for one sick reason that will leave you shaking your head in disbelief.
Florida tied its record with three hurricanes making landfall in a single year.
The 1871, 1886, 1964, 2004, 2005, and 2024 hurricane seasons, each saw three storms make landfall on Florida’s coasts.
Hurricanes Helene and Milton brought intense winds and flood waters that caused considerable damage across Florida.
One unfortunate reality about hurricanes is that a lot of people lose their pets during the storm.
In Polk County, Florida, more than 100 lost pets were found after Hurricane Milton.
Even though Americans disagree on a variety of issues, a love for dogs is something that unites virtually everyone.
That is why animal cruelty is not only frowned upon but is also a felony offense in all 50 states.
According to the Humane Society, “With South Dakota joining the fight in March of 2014, animal cruelty laws now include felony provisions in all 50 states.”
And two Florida women recently caught a felony charge after police discovered the disgusting way they abused 32 dogs at their home.
It all started when police received a tip from a witness who was concerned about the owners not being home to take care of their dogs.
Investigators responded to the call a couple of days later and immediately noticed a “strong smell of urine and feces” along with several dogs barking inside.
“The dogs were observed to be in filthy conditions without access to clean drinking water or food,” the affidavit reads. “The dogs were housed in wire cages stacked two and three high, allowing urine and feces to fall into the bottom row of cages.”
The Orange County Animal Services removed 32 dogs from the property.
One animal was already dead in the home.
“According to deputies, the dead animal had been found left with a still-living dog in a shower stall, which was blocked shut by a plastic dog food bin filled with dirt,” ClickOrlando reported. “In addition, deputies said several dogs tested positive for Parvovirus.”
Kyla Rivard, 27, owned the dogs and had started a “dog rescue” operation out of the home with 45-year-old Heather Lynn Drass.
According to Drass, the two women both took turns taking care of the dogs, but she said she had been in the hospital a few days before the police arrived.
“Drass stated that Kyla Rivard would normally come to the property every day, but there were times that Kyla Rivard would not show up for a couple of days,” the affidavit reads. “Drass stated that Kyla Rivard has a bad drug problem, to include heroin and methamphetamine, and would occasionally overdose on the property.”
Both women were arrested and face two counts of animal cruelty and 11 counts of confining animals without food, water or exercise.
DeSantis Daily will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
