- Florida, USA -
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has arrested 20-year-old TOMMIE EUGENE MERCER III (pictured below) and charged him with 16 counts of aggravated animal cruelty.
Deputies were called to a home on 8315 N. Parr Court to assist Animal Services with a search warrant for MERCER, and to remove 16 dogs from the property.
There were 12 adult dogs and 4 puppies in the property living in inhumane conditions.
According to investigators, the furbabies were emaciated.
There was no food in their kennels, the water was green and not considered clean drinking water.
The cages were filled with feces and urine.
Some of the dogs had ear infections and worms and the poor dogs appeared to have not been receiving veterinarian care.
As reported by News4Jax, the arrest reports states that when MERCER was questioned about the condition of the dogs and their kennels, he said, “I work 55 hours per week.”
MERCER acknowledged the dogs had been in his custody for an entire year.
The arrest report also states that the case against MERCER started on September 24, after neighbors reported a foul odor emanating from his property, and barking dogs and crying.
Following that complaint, an animal control officer went to the home and discovered 16 dogs.
Most of them were hound dogs and MERCER claimed he used them for hunting.
On that occasion, the officer gave MERCER six written citations for not taking good care of the dogs.
By the time the state attorney’s office reviewed the case, a warrant was issued for MERCER’s arrest on 16 counts of aggravated animal cruelty, which is a third-degree felony.
News4Jax reports that the house belongs to MERCER’s grandfather who argues that the dogs were fed and disputes the complaints against his grandson.
He told News4Jax that his grandson was not mistreating they dogs, and they were not crying.
He also said that his grandson was working long hours and was trying to juggle time at his job with taking care of the animals.
News4Jax also reports that animal control is trying to get sole legal custody of the dogs, but MERCER is not signing any paperwork handing them over.
The furbabies are still recovering in protective custody with the city.
MERCER remained in the Duval County jail on $40,000 bond, according to online jail records.
