Also given a misdemeanor citation for animal cruelty was the animals’ caretaker, Hernando deputies said.

DADE CITY – Deputies seized animals from a Dade City property and cited the owner and caretaker for animal cruelty, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said.

Cited for misdemeanor Animal Cruelty were Kay Davis, 68, and Glen Gulvin, 64. Davis owns the animals and the land but does not live there. Gulvin is the animals’ caretaker, deputies said.

Deputies said they first became aware of the animals’ condition in April when the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office Animal Enforcement Unit went to the property on 34125 Hyatt Road in Ridge Manor to conduct a welfare check on numerous animals on the property that appeared to be in distress.

Upon arrival, animal enforcement officers said they saw several animals in need of attention. Those animals included a horse, whose hip and rib bones were showing, an extremely overweight pot belly pig, three goats, and five adult dogs, whose pen was covered in feces and mold.

Officers said they met with Davis and told her she needed to clean the dogs’ pen immediately and provide them with fresh bedding and clean water. Davis said a man was coming later that day to clean the dogs’ pen. Officers said they told Davis she would need to have a veterinarian examine both the horse and one of the goats that appeared malnourished.

In addition, Davis was instructed to have a farrier examine the horse. They said Davis agreed to do what she was told. She told officers that she would be paid May 3 and would have a farrier out at that time.

On April 24, officers said they contacted Davis who told them a farrier would be out to see the horse May 6.

Animal Enforcement officers returned to the property Friday (May 31) after numerous attempts to contact Davis since April 24 were unsuccessful.

When officers arrived on scene they were able to observe the horse, whose condition appeared to have worsened since the last visit.

Officers said they also noted none of the animals had access to food and the water was covered in algae.

Upon documenting the conditions, officers called Davis who was told to come to the property immediately.

All of the animals on the property were found in a state of neglect and were seized and taken to Animal Services in Brooksville.

The animal enforcement unit is moving forward with a petition to permanently remove all of the animals from Davis’ custody.

Photos courtesy of the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.

Hernando Sheriff | Animal Cruelty | Crime | Tampabay News

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