Anger As Elderly Dog Put Down Due to Owner’s Neglect: ‘End Her Suffering’

A Lee County man has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty after his neglected Labrador mix, Molly, had to be euthanized after suffering from severe abuse and neglect.
On the evening of August 15, deputies in Lee County, Florida, were called to Blue Pearl Pet Hospital after 26-year-old Jonathan Urquizo brought Molly to the facility.
The dog was in critical condition—emaciated, severely dehydrated, and suffering from burns and maggot infestations. Despite medical efforts, Molly was not going to recover. “Molly was beyond any state of repair and was humanely euthanized to end her suffering,” the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
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Urquizo was immediately detained by deputies and the county’s Animal Control Task Force (ACTF) began investigating the incident. When they arrived at the man’s residence, they were shocked to find another animal that had been neglected, a severely underweight female cat. Named Ladybug, the cat was immediately taken to a nearby pet hospital for treatment.
Sheriff Carmine Marceno of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office expressed his outrage over the incident. “It sickens me that this sweet dog, Molly, was just trying to live out her golden years but instead was treated so poorly by this poor excuse of a man,” Marceno said in a statement. “I have absolutely zero tolerance for anyone who thinks it is okay to force any animal to live in this condition. I thank God for allowing my deputies to rescue Ladybug and save her from a terrible ending like Molly’s.”
In a post on Facebook, the sheriff’s office shared a video featuring the horrible conditions the animals were living in before they were found by authorities. The post which also shared the story sparked fury online and gained more than 9,000 views.
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The ACTF’s investigation revealed that both animals had been forced to live in uninhabitable conditions. Urquizo has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty and issued a citation for unsanitary conditions by the Lee County Domestic Animal Services (LCDAS).
The National Sheriffs’ Association notes that while all states have laws against animal neglect, enforcing these laws can be complex. Issues such as inadequate food, water, shelter, and medical care often complicate investigations and prosecutions.
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Animal neglect, a form of animal cruelty, can include abandonment, failure to provide basic needs, hoarding, and more. Federal regulations, such as the Animal Welfare Act, also set standards for the care of animals, with those who break the law faced with fines and jail time.