A 48-year-old Dunnellon man is facing animal cruelty charges after a dozen animals were found living amidst feces, roaches, and neglected litter boxes inside a “filthy” home.
On Tuesday, August 27, Citrus County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a home located on W Cross Drive in Dunnellon in reference to an unrelated call for service. When deputies entered the home, they spotted wire crates that were stacked against a wall near a kitchen, according to CCSO.
The sheriff’s office stated that a large sheet was covering the wire crates. The homeowner, identified as Joshua Sirmons, told the deputies that “nothing” was under the sheet.
However, when deputies removed the sheet, they observed two small dogs locked inside the “filthy” crates, and there was no food or water inside. According to CCSO, the dogs and crates were “caked in feces,” and the dogs’ fur was “stained orange by urine.”
While inside the home, deputies observed six additional dogs that were running around the “extremely cluttered” and “dirty” residence. Due to the conditions in the home, animal control officers with CCSO soon arrived on scene to conduct an investigation.
During a search of the home’s interior, CCSO stated that the animal control officers found two cats, a tortoise, and a large bird. In addition, the officers observed the following:
- Litter boxes in the bedroom and bathroom that appeared to have been neglected for “many months,” with feces on the floor around and behind the litter boxes.
- An infestation of roaches in the tortoise enclosure. The heat lamp was also turned off, and the tortoise was “cold to the touch.”
- Several inches of feces, discarded food, and debris at the bottom of the birdcage. No food was observed in the cage.
The officers were unable to find any water that was available to the animals in the home. Sirmons told the officers that the dogs could “drink from the toilet” if they got thirsty, according to the sheriff’s office.
CCSO added that all dogs found in the home were underweight, and several of them had “obvious medical conditions” that had gone untreated.
Sirmons was unable to provide any proof of veterinary care for the animals inside his home. He also told officers that he recently had more dogs, but several of them passed away earlier this year, according to CCSO.
Sirmons was arrested and transported to Citrus County Jail. He has been charged with two counts of aggravated animal cruelty, which is a felony. He also signed a surrender form, which released ownership of the 12 seized animals to Citrus County.
The sheriff’s office stated that the animals seized from Sirmons’ home will undergo medical intake exams by a veterinarian at a local animal shelter. The results of those exams could lead to additional charges against Sirmons.