150 animals neglected
Homestead, FL (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Aug 1, 2002
County: Miami-Dade
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 1 files available
Alleged: Andrew Bloom
One polka-dotted appaloosa mare was supposed to foal soon but barely looked pregnant because she had not eaten in days. One donkey's skin was raw and pink from the sun. Starving ponies had resorted to eating wooden posts.
That was the scene described Wednesday by Miami-Dade police and animal safety officials who raided Andrew Bloom's 10-acre property at 24800 SW 193 Ave. in south Miami-Dade County.
Police said they found a decrepit zoo of sick and emaciated animals, including exotic African deer, pot-bellied pigs and miniature donkeys. Officials worked well into the night to rescue more than 150 animals.
The owner kept his collection without proper food or water, police said.
Bloom, 69, was taken into custody and will be charged with 16 counts of felony animal cruelty and 16 counts of confinement without sufficient water, food and exercise.
Police have eyed Bloom for years -- neighbors lodged frequent complaints about sickly animals. Bloom was charged with wild-animal registration violations earlier this year and in 1999 but both cases were dropped, records show.
In 1994, Bloom was acquitted of the same charges.
But after a recent string of complaints concerning malnourished horses on his front lawn, Miami-Dade police obtained a search warrant and searched the property.
''We've had a lot of neighbor complaints for about nine or 10 years, ever since Hurricane Andrew,'' said Det. Melisa Peacock, who was ribbed by rescuers as they rounded up her namesake birds.
Miami-Dade police do not think Bloom is employed and are not sure where he gets the money to buy the animals. They declined to disclose where they're taking the birds for fear they could be targeted by thieves.
Officers were joined by officials from the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, the South Florida Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Pesky Critters Wildlife Control. References- Miami-Dade Police
- The Miami Herald
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