The discovery of a dozen distressed animals in a Dunnellon home has led to the arrest of a Citrus County man on charges of aggravated animal cruelty. When Citrus County Sheriff's Office deputies visited the home at 3926 West Cross Drive, initially responding to an unrelated service call, they incidentally stumbled upon a scene of neglect involving multiple animals.
Upon entering the residence, deputies found wired crates with an orange hue, indicative of rust or stains, and a home environment plagued by disarray, as reported by ABC Action News. The situation deteriorated further when Joshua Sirmons, the 48-year-old homeowner, allegedly said the dogs could "dogs could drink water from the toilet if they were thirsty," according to WFLA News.
Details furnished by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office reveal that the house contained crates laden with animal feces and harbored two small urine-stained dogs without access to food or water. Alongside these dogs, deputies discovered six more dogs roaming the cluttered confines of the home, joined by two cats, a tortoise, and a large bird. The unsettling environment and lack of basic care warranted the immediate seizure of the animals by the authorities, as obtained by FOX 13 News.
The case against Sirmons is now moving forward, with the Sheriff's Office also indicating that all of the rescued animals are currently being tended to and evaluated.
