Dunnellon man arrested on aggravated animal cruelty charges; 12 animals seized
Photo graphic courtesy of CCSO.
Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO)
Dunnellon, Florida - On Tuesday night, August 27, 2024 a deputy with the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) responded to a residence located at 3926 West Cross Drive in Dunnellon due to a call for service unrelated to the animal cruelty charges.
When the deputy entered the home, he saw numerous wire crates stacked against a wall near the kitchen, partially covered by a large bed sheet. When questioned about the reason for the sheet, 48 year-old Joshua Sirmons told the deputy there was nothing under the sheet. However, when the deputy removed the sheet, he found two small dogs locked in filthy crates, with no food or water. The dogs and the crates were both caked in feces, and the dogs' fur was stained orange by urine.
The deputy found six additional dogs running loose in the extremely cluttered and dirty home. The deputy requested that CCSO Animal Control Officers (ACOs) respond to the home to assist in the investigation.
Inside the residence, ACOs found sevvefralother animals: two cats, a tortoise, and a large bird.
Litter boxes in the bedroom and bathroom appeared as though they had not been cleaned for many months, as feces covered the floor around and behind them.
The tortoise enclosure was infested with roaches, and the heat lamp was turned off, which resulted in the tortoise being cold to touch.
The birdcage had several inches of feces, discarded food, and debris lining the bottom, and no food was available in the cage.
No water was available to any of the animals in the home. When questioned about the water, Sirmons told officers that the dogs could drink water from the toilet if they became thirsty.
All dogs were found to be underweight, and several had obvious medical conditions that were untreated.
Sirmons mentioned that he'd had other dogs that had passed during this year. He could not provide proof of veterinary care for any of the animals for several years.
Sirmons was charged with two counts of aggravated (felony) animal cruelty. He sign a surrender form which released the ownership of all Sirmona' animals to Citrus County. Additional charges may be added, pending medical intake exams by the Citrus County Animal Shelter veterinarian.
"Our team of Animal Control Officers works daily to help protect those innocent animals who cannot speak up for themselves," said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast. "So far this year, we have rescued over 190 'pets' from reprehensible living conditions. The relationship between our Animal Control Unit and the County Animal Shelter is vital. Without the shelter, there is no haven to deliver these poor animals to after rescuing them from such horrid conditions, and no one to document how well these animals thrive under the proper care. We are truly fortunate to have their resources and knowledge available to us."
Information about the relationship between the Citrus County Sheriff's Office's Animal Control Unit and Citrus County Animal Services:
In the field, the Citrus County Animal Control Unit is tasked with gathering evidence pertaining to the animal's living conditions. These include how the owner(s) cared for and interacted with them, as well as whether food, water, shelter, medical care, and a clean environment were available to them.
Our agency must photograph the scene and interview witnesses, neighbors, owners, and family members to build a case. However, these elements are just a part of the evidence needed to prove criminal neglect or cruelty. Documentation from a licensed Veterinarian stating in medical terms the level of neglect or abuse an animal has suffered and how long they believe the animal endured that neglect or abuse is paramount in a successful prosecution and often determines whether the charges will be classified as a misdemeanor or aggravated (felony) animal cruelty.