By Sheriff Grady Judd
When you hear the phrase “animal cruelty,” what is the first thought that comes to mind?
Here in rural Polk County, the PCSO Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit investigates animal cruelty and neglect calls, and you’d probably be surprised to learn that many of these calls are not just about cats and dogs – they concern livestock as well.
When citizens drive by a pasture filled with cows and become concerned that, to the untrained eye, the cows are “emaciated” or “neglected,” they often call PCSO to report suspected animal cruelty. Our detectives are highly trained to detect if and when livestock such as horses and cows are malnourished or neglected, and responding to these calls is a timely, but necessary, service they provide. They routinely attend training classes to hone their skills in the area of animal cruelty and neglect.
You may be wondering, “How can I tell the difference between a horse or a cow that has been truly neglected or mistreated, and a horse or cow that is just skinny and grazing?” Here, according to Florida State Statute 828, are some telltale signs of animal cruelty and neglect:
The animal is confined in an area without ample food and water; the animal suffers from an injury or malnutrition and has been abandoned by the owner in a street, road, or public place; the animal has been maimed, mutilated, or killed for other than a humane reason; the animal has been unnecessarily overloaded, overdriven, tormented, or deprived of food and shelter; the animal has been subjected to cruel death or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering.
Since December 2023, the Unit has investigated three separate cases of animal neglect and hoarding. In each of those investigations, we found women in their 60s and 70s who, over the course of a few years, collected so many cats they became overwhelmed, and their living conditions became deplorable. Some of the pets died due to neglect, and appropriate charges were filed.
We rely on the public every day to be our eyes and ears out in the communities and in the fields. If you have any information about suspected pet or livestock animal cruelty or neglect, we urge you to contact us with detailed information. Call the PCSO Agriculture Unit at 863.534.7205, or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward, call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1.888.400.TIPS (8477).