A Frostproof woman has been arrested on charges of felony animal cruelty following the finding of two deceased dogs at a residence. According to a statement, authorities responded on June 17 to an anonymous complaint about the dogs' state at a home on West 6th Street, where they encountered 20-year-old Nashali Santiago, the Polk County Sheriff's Office reported.
Santiago, who claimed she had been looking after the dogs on behalf of her brother, stationed overseas, told deputies she had last attended to the animals the night before. In the backyard, deputies discovered two German Shepherds—Ajax and Sugar—inside an uncovered pen with no visible traces of food or water. At the time, local reports cited an outdoor temperature of 93 degrees Fahrenheit.
The investigation by Dr. Adam Stern, a forensic veterinary pathologist from the University of Florida Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, concluded heatstroke and dehydration were the causes of death. Stern's exams found that while both dogs had been unfed for a period of time, Ajax displayed signs of malnutrition unrelated to illness, suggesting persistent neglect.
"This is a heartbreaking case of neglect," Sheriff Grady Judd commented, "If you take responsibility for an animal, you are obligated to care for it properly." Santiago now faces two counts of felony animal cruelty, each count carrying serious repercussions, under Florida law.
