- Florida, USA -
“I am disgusted by people who abuse those that are defenseless.” That is how Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno began a press conference regarding the SENSELESS and PREVENTABLE death of an innocent dog.
Sheriff Marceno said that on the morning of Tuesday, March 28, 2023, his deputies were called to a home on Bryan Avenue North in Lehigh Acres about a dog in distress.
A disabled resident in a wheelchair saw the dog but was unable to physically help, so they alerted the sheriff’s office.
Upon arrival, deputies found a 7-month-old 60 lbs. English Bulldog mix named Oreo.
Oreo was in the backyard in a tiny cage that prevented him from moving, turning around, or lying down. The voiceless victim “was forced to stand the entire time,” said the sheriff.
According to Sheriff Marceno, Oreo was left alone in the cage for six long hours in direct sunlight without food or water. “His cries for help were unanswered and Oreo tried to chew his way out of a metal cage. Oreo was found dead with his teeth still biting the cage still trying to chew out,” recounted sheriff Marceno.
Lee County Domestic Animal Services used an infrared thermometer to record the area around Oreo which was 127 degrees. Oreo’s internal temperature was too high to read on the thermometer. “He fought until his last breath. A gut-wrenching view of torture and a cruel death for a helpless animal”, added the sheriff.
31-years-old JONATHAN ALBERTO BENITEZ (pictured), arrived at the scene and told deputies he put Oreo inside the cage in the backyard because “he didn’t want the dog to tear things up.”
I wonder if BENITEZ’s mother put him in a tiny cage in the backyard as a child because she did not want her son to “tear things up”!
BENITEZ was arrested for aggravated animal cruelty. Sheriff Marceno said that he and State Attorney Amira Fox feel the same about animals and they will work together to see that BENITEZ gets the fullest extent of the law. Meanwhile, BENITEZ, society’s vomit, is out free. He was released the day after his arrest.
Online records show that he is scheduled to appear in Lee County Circuit Court on May 1, 2023, at 8:30 a.m.
Sheriff Marceno said the case remains active and Oreo’s remains will be sent to the ASPCA for a necropsy.
Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.
Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.
BENITEZ’s mugshot via Lee County Jail.
Oreo's pictures kindly provided to Voice For Us by the Lee County Sheriff's Office.
Addiction Source:
#animalcruelty #crueldadanimal #cruautéanimale #tierquälerei #animalslivesmatter #florida #dog #deathpenaltyforanimalabusers #leecounty