ERNEST JOSEPH PFEIFER gifted with probation for abandoning his sick cat

- Florida, USA -

On Thursday, November 13, 2025, 57-year-old ERNEST JOSEPH PFEIFER (pictured), appeared in Collier County Circuit Court and pleaded guilty to one count of confinement/abandonment of animals.

According to the Collier County Sheriff's Office, on August 29, 2024, PFEIFER drove from Miami to Everglades City and “abandoned his 4-year-old Maine Coon named Shona in a locked carrier without food or water.”

When Shona was found, she was wearing a protective cone around her head and bottles of medication were found inside the carrier.

Thankfully, the person who found Shona did not look the other way and reached out for help. At the time, the county animal shelter was closed due to a quarantine, so SNIP Collier intervened and provided care and treatment for Shona.

The sheriff’s office launched an investigation, and a warrant was issued for PFEIFER’s arrest. 

On April 1, 2025, PFEIFER was arrested on this warrant while in custody at the Naples Jail Center.

On Thursday, PFEIFER was sentenced to ten (10) days in jail, one year of probation, and $1,145.50 restitution. PFEIFER is also banned from “owning” or “possessing” animals.

As for Shona, Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said that she has since recovered and remains in foster care.

In a written statement, Sheriff Rambosk said “Every act of cruelty matters and will not be ignored. Our Animal Cruelty Investigations Alliance is committed to protecting animals and holding offenders accountable.”

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

PFEIFER’s mugshot shared from the Collier County Sheriff's Office

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