MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Manatee County Animal Welfare (MCAW) is seeking information about a disturbing case of animal abandonment and cruelty involving two rescued cats.
On Monday, July 29, animal welfare officers responded to a call on the 1700 block of Lena Road. Upon arrival, they discovered an abandoned crate containing three cats, one of which was unfortunately deceased. The two surviving cats were found to be lethargic, severely underweight, and in critical health conditions.
MCAW reported that there is evidence indicating the surviving cats may have resorted to consuming the deceased cat in a desperate bid for survival.
“This is one of the most heartbreaking cases of animal neglect we’ve seen,” stated Sarah Brown, director of Manatee County Animal Welfare. “These animals suffered immensely. There is no excuse for this level of cruelty, and we are using every tool available to hold the responsible party accountable.”
The two surviving cats were transported to Bishop Animal Shelter for urgent treatment. MCAW hopes to place them in adoptive homes once they have recovered.
New legislation recently signed by Gov. DeSantis—Trooper’s Law and Dexter’s Law—has enhanced Florida’s animal protection laws, which will take effect on July 1, 2025.
“This kind of abuse has no place in Manatee County,” said George Kruse, chair of the Manatee Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), who has been an advocate for animal welfare in the community. “We support MCAW and law enforcement in our commitment to fully investigate and prosecute this kind of cruelty.”
MCAW is appealing to the public for assistance in this investigation. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact Manatee County Animal Welfare at (941) 742-5933.
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Maybe we should just do away with homeowner associations as a whole.”
In related news, South Florida lawmaker Rep. Juan Carlos Porras (R-Miami) suggests that perhaps it’s time to abolish homeowners associations (HOAs) entirely. Many Floridians are voicing concerns about rising fees, costly lawsuits, and even arrests connected to HOA disputes. Porras announced he is considering filing legislation to eliminate HOAs statewide in the upcoming session.
Lawmaker looks to ban HOAs
Key Information
- Location: 1700 block of Lena Road, Manatee County, FL
- Incident Date: July 29
- Condition of Cats: One deceased, two critically underweight and lethargic
- Contact for Information: Manatee County Animal Welfare at (941) 742-5933
- New Legislation: Trooper’s Law and Dexter’s Law effective July 1, 2025
Article original publish date: 2025-08-05 18:55:00
Article source: www.tampabay28.com
Read the full story at the original source: www.tampabay28.com
