HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. – Thirty dogs have been removed from a Hernando County property after an investigation revealed conditions of animal mistreatment.
Following reports of suspected animal neglect, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office executed an inspection warrant on a residence on Margot Road in northwest Hernando County on March 7, 2025.
Upon inspection, authorities discovered that all 30 dogs, owned by Jose Gonzalez-Cruz, lacked proper shelter. Twenty-two of the dogs either had no water or no access to water or were provided with non-potable water, with some water buckets containing mold and dead lizards.
Nine dogs were found to be visibly underweight, with ribs and hip bones clearly visible. Six dogs had noticeable sores and open bleeding wounds. Many of the dogs were confined in crates that were too small and lacked proper flooring, with only open wires touching the ground.
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Four dogs were located on the rotting front porch and another four on the back porch, both of which had holes in the wood.
Several dogs had no access to dry ground, and the bottoms of their kennels were muddy with a mixture of feces and urine. An Animal Enforcement Officer (AEO) reported an overpowering stench emanating from the area where the dogs were housed.
Despite the poor conditions, all the dogs, mostly bulldog mixes, were reported to be friendly towards people. Due to the observed conditions, Gonzalez-Cruz was issued a citation for Animal Mistreatment. All 30 dogs were impounded and transported to Animal Services.
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Gonzalez-Cruz is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, May 7th. The dogs will remain impounded at the shelter until a judge determines whether they should be returned to Gonzalez-Cruz or become the property of Animal Services.
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