19 cats and dogs seized
Tampa, FL (US)Incident Date: Friday, Feb 1, 2008
County: Hillsborough
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» Cynthia Annette Cuervo
» Evelyn Cuervo
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
Hillsborough County Animal Services began an investigation this morning that led them back to a home in Town n' Country for another case of animal neglect.
Offiicials say the suspects were accused of animal neglect previously that led to charges and six dogs removed from the property. This morning a number of mixed breed small dogs and cats were taken after they were found covered in animal feces and urine.
Evelyn and Cynthia Cuervo faced animal abuse and neglect charges in the past incident but went through an education process which allowed for the charges to be dropped.
Law enforcement remain on the scene at 8802 West Crenshaw Street as the investigation continues.
Case UpdatesA woman arrested three times on animal cruelty charges since May 2007 returned to court this afternoon, but the judge moved the hearing to September.
Cynthia Annette Cuervo, 44, of Tampa, has a new court date for 1:30 p.m. Sept. 15.
She faces 14 misdemeanor counts of confinement of animals without food and water. Cuervo has pleaded not guilty to those charges.
Cuervo previously had been ordered by a judge to not have animals, but she ignored those orders in November when deputies found 14 emaciated dogs in her home, Hillsborough County Animal Services spokeswoman Marti Ryan said.
The dogs seized from Cuervo's home were "hungry, thirsty, grimy and very, very smelly," Ryan said last year. Twelve were small-breed dogs such as poodles and long-haired terriers. A Great Dane and German shepherd were also seized.
Those dogs have since been adopted.
Cuervo was first arrested in May 2007 after investigators found five hungry dogs in a shed on her property, Ryan said. Cuervo surrendered custody of the animals and charges were dropped, Ryan said.
In February 2008, 16 dogs and three cats were seized from Cuervo's home. The remains of a dog were also found, Ryan said. Circuit Judge Walter Heinrich barred Cuervo from owning more animals.
In November, a Hillsborough deputy familiar with Cuervo's case was on routine patrol in the neighborhood when she heard dogs barking inside Cuervo's home, Ryan said.
Cuervo told investigators that those animals belonged to one of her children, Ryan said. | Source: tbo.com - Jul 27, 2009
Update posted on Jul 29, 2009 - 1:08PM |
Nineteen animals were found in a sea of their own waste at Cynthia Annette Cuervo's home Friday, including the remains of what was thought to have been a dog, authorities say.
Hillsborough County deputies arrested Cuervo on Tuesday night. She was charged with 20 counts of animal cruelty, 20 counts of improper confinement of animals and 20 counts of not providing water.
The animals rescued from the property likely will recover, Hillsborough County Animal Services spokeswoman Marti Ryan said.
There were 16 live dogs and three cats.
Before coming into Animal Services' care, the creatures were emaciated and ridden with parasites, Ryan said. They had to be fed slowly because their systems were in shock.
"Most of them have recovered from their fear of humans," Ryan said. "A couple still have some issues."
On Friday, Cuervo's neighbor told the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office about a possible burglary in progress at Cuervo's home, 8202 W. Crenshaw St., after seeing a light flicker, authorities said.
Instead of a burglar, deputies found distressed animals living in their own fecal matter and urine, said Sgt. Pam Perry of Hillsborough County Animal Services.
Three of the dogs jumped through a broken window when deputies arrived, authorities say. Cuervo wasn't home when investigators were on scene, and it isn't immediately clear whether she lives at the property or has more than one home, Ryan said.
Investigators cited Cuervo in May and took six dogs from her, saying the animals had been mistreated, Ryan said. A judge dropped the charges against Cuervo, but those dogs were placed in other homes.
The animals found Friday remain fragile and aren't suitable or available for adoption, Ryan said. They likely will end up in foster care until they can be adopted.
Cuervo, 42, remained in Orient Road Jail this morning.
Her bail was set at $50,000. | Source: TBO - Feb 6, 2008
Update posted on Feb 7, 2008 - 12:51AM |
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