Hoarding
81 dogs removed from property in southwest Miami-Dade
Sep 10, 2013
HOMESTEAD, Fla. - The Miami-Dade Animal Services Department on Tuesday removed 81 dogs found inside filthy crates aboard a U-Haul truck on a property in southwest Miami-Dade County.
A tipster reported the dogs to investigators, who found animals at 12375 SW 248th Street.
"Every cage that we saw that was there had at least three inches of dried fecal matter," said Luis Salgado with the Miami-Dade Animal Services Department.
Investigators said a mother and daughter packed the dogs into the U-Haul.
"The truck was full of these animals, the cages were full of feces, and they were starting to transport them out of the property," said Salgado. "She was trying to remove the dogs from the property [and] obviously hide them from us."
By law, the women were allowed to keep eight of the dogs.
"Every time they picked up a stray -- they claimed they were strays -- they pick up the strays, she would try to get them adopted and then the mother would want to stay with them," said Salgado.
The 81 dogs were taken for veterinary treatment.
"They're all in fair conditions. They're all pretty dirty and just poor care, meaning they need baths and nail trimming and ear cleaning and definitely lots of love," said veterinarian Maria Serrano.
RIP Brandy
100 charges of misdemeanor animal cruelty
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Media contact: Luis Salgado
305-418-7155
ARREST MADE FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY FOR THE 80+ DOGS THAT WERE RESCUED BY
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT LAST WEEK
(MIAMI, September 19, 2013) – On Friday, September 13, 2013, the Miami-Dade County Police Department, Agricultural Patrol Unit, based on collaboration with Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department (ASD), arrested Maria Y. Crespo and her mother, Teresa Horta-Barrial, on over 100 charges of misdemeanor animal cruelty. ASD removed more than 80 dogs from squalid conditions and are still in need of finding great loving homes as soon as possible.
An anonymous report of animal cruelty filed through the County’s 3-1-1 Answer Center alerted investigators to the horrific conditions in southwest Miami-Dade. Investigators located the dogs housed in filthy crates aboard a large truck. All of the dogs were safely transported from the property by ASD who caught the suspect trying to escape the property with the dogs. The suspects are still in jail and have not bonded out.
“We take any and all animal cruelty allegations very seriously and have zero tolerance for anyone who does not properly care for any animal,” said Alex Muñoz, Director, Animal Services Department. “There is no reason whatsoever to make animals live in deplorable conditions. There are options available for anyone that can no longer care for their pet(s) due to personal health issues and/or change of financial situation. We are always willing to assist anyone in need and so are our rescue partners which serve as an extension of our operations by helping us in finding loving homes for all shelter pets.”
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MIAMI-DADE ANIMAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
7401 NW 74 Street
Miami, FL 3316681 dogs removed from property in southwest Miami-Dade
Sep 10 2013
HOMESTEAD, Fla. - The Miami-Dade Animal Services Department on Tuesday removed 81 dogs found inside filthy crates aboard a U-Haul truck on a property in southwest Miami-Dade County.
A tipster reported the dogs to investigators, who found animals at 12375 SW 248th Street.
"Every cage that we saw that was there had at least three inches of dried fecal matter," said Luis Salgado with the Miami-Dade Animal Services Department.
Investigators said a mother and daughter packed the dogs into the U-Haul.
"The truck was full of these animals, the cages were full of feces, and they were starting to transport them out of the property," said Salgado. "She was trying to remove the dogs from the property [and] obviously hide them from us."
By law, the women were allowed to keep eight of the dogs.
"Every time they picked up a stray -- they claimed they were strays -- they pick up the strays, she would try to get them adopted and then the mother would want to stay with them," said Salgado.
The 81 dogs were taken for veterinary treatment. Charges weren't immediately filed.
"They're all in fair conditions. They're all pretty dirty and just poor care, meaning they need baths and nail trimming and ear cleaning and definitely lots of love," said veterinarian Maria Serrano.
The department waived adoption fees for the month of September. Anyone interested in adopting one of the dogs can visit the shelter at 7401 NW 74th Street.
