HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. – A Weeki Wachee man has been arrested on animal cruelty charges following an investigation that led to the removal of 30 dogs from his property.
The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) reported that after detectives presented their findings to the State’s Attorney’s Office, a warrant was issued for the arrest of 49-year-old Jose Gonzalez-Cruz.
Gonzalez-Cruz was arrested on April 4, 2025, after arriving for a civil court appearance.
READ: Florida Man Sentenced For $5.5 Million Tax Evasion, Concealed Assets
Gonzalez-Cruz was charged with:
- Felony Aggravated Animal Cruelty
- Animal Cruelty
His bond was set at $3,500.
Authorities stated that Gonzalez-Cruz relinquished custody of 25 of the dogs. The remaining 5 dogs will remain impounded at the animal shelter until a judge determines whether they will be returned to Gonzalez-Cruz or become the property of Animal Services.
Original Investigation Details:
The investigation began on March 7, 2025, when an HCSO Animal Enforcement Officer (AEO), along with patrol deputies and forensics specialists, executed an inspection warrant at a residence on Margot Road in northwest Hernando County due to suspected animal neglect.
READ: REPORT: ISIS Regaining Strength In Post-Assad Syria
During the inspection, officers discovered the following conditions:
- All 30 dogs on the property, owned by Jose Gonzalez-Cruz, lacked proper shelter.
- 22 dogs had no water, no access to water, or access to non-potable water (some water buckets contained mold and dead lizards).
- Nine dogs were categorized as skinny, with ribs and/or hip bones clearly visible.
- Six dogs had noticeable sores with open bleeding wounds.
- Several dogs were in crates that were too small and lacked proper flooring (only open wires touching the ground).
- Four dogs were on the front porch, and another four were on the back porch. Both porches were rotting with holes in the wood.
- Several dogs had no access to dry ground, and the bottom of the kennels were muddy with a combination of feces and urine.
- The AEO described the smell coming from the dog housing area as overpowering.
Despite the conditions, the AEO noted that all the dogs appeared friendly toward people.
Due to the observed conditions, Gonzalez-Cruz was initially issued a citation for Animal Mistreatment, and all 30 bulldog mix dogs were impounded and transported to Animal Services.
Gonzalez-Cruz’s next court date is scheduled for Wednesday, May 7th. The dogs will remain impounded at the shelter until the judge makes a determination regarding their future custody.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
