Dunnellon, FL man charged with illegal animal breeding and animal cruelty
CCSO mugshot of Roberto Arevalo Miranda, 65, of Dunellon, FL.
(Citrus County, FL) On August 10, 2022, detectives with the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) Community Crimes Unit, along with officers with the agency's Animal Control Unit responded to 6619 W. Copenhagen St. in Dunnellon, Florida in regard to the suspicion that roosters were being bred for fighting at the location.
Investigators found numerous small A-frame-style structures on the property, with roosters tethered underneath them. Fifty-nine roosters and hens were seized by CCSO Animal Control officers, along with two dogs on the property with inadequate food, water and shelter.
Officers made contact with Roberto Arevalo Miranda, 65, who lived on the property in a camper near the small A-frame-style structures. In an interview, Miranda told officers that he stays on the property, working for a friend to raise roosters that are shipped to the Philippines for fighting. Miranda said that he'd lived on the property for approximately eight months, and he'd begun raising his own roosters to send to the Philippines for rooster fighting. As the investigation progressed, Miranda claimed ownership of nine roosters for fighting.
Mr. Miranda was charged with nine counts of animal breeding for the purpose of fighting and two counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty, with his combined bond set at $47,000.
Further investigation is ongoing to determine if other suspects may be involved in this illegal breeding operation, or if there is any connection to a July 30, 2022 case where seven people were arrested on cockfighting charges at 12599 S. Florida Ave. in Floral City, Florida as the result of a noise complaint.
"We will not tolerate this type of activity in Citrus County," said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast. "Know that if you participate in any way in the cruel and inhumane treatment of animals, we will arrest you and make sure you are held accountable for your actions. We encourage citizens to call (352) 249-2790 to report suspected animal cruelty to help us help defenseless animals that can't speak for themselves."