- Florida, USA -
The Lake City Police Department arrested 73-year-old RONALD WAYNE NIMS (pictured) after many cats, chickens, and dogs were removed from his home.
The Lake City Humane Society received information that there were up to fourteen (14) malnourished animals living at the home. Members with the agency responded to NIMS’ home on 705 SE Putnam Street and gave him a 72-hour notice to comply with state statutes on animal care.
On September 19, 2024, Ms. Jackson with the Lake City Humane Society went to NIMS’s home to check whether he had complied and she was denied entry. She then called the Lake City Police Department for assistance.
A responding officer reported seeing “multiple dogs in dire need of medical attention.” According to the officer, the dogs “were missing fur and covered in their own feces.”
Eventually, NIMS allowed police and Animal Control Officers to enter his home. According to the report obtained by Voice For Us, NIMS said he did not want people in the home as he is an “animal hoarder.”
Officials observed that there were no lights in the house. They saw multiple cages in the first room of the house that had been stacked on each other without water of food dishes. The floor was completely covered with hard feces and garbage preventing the door in the room from being opened.
Throughout the home there were no lights or running water.
As officers were about to enter another room, NIMS was reluctant at first. Once inside the room, officers discovered two dogs in a cage under sheets. In the cage there was no food or water and the bottom was “padded with feces”, stated the report. Police said there was no dog food in the house.
According to the report, one of the two dogs was “aggressive and resisted being touched.”
Upon clearing the house, officials discovered eleven dogs, four cats, and two chickens.
All of the dogs were covered in fleas, many of them were shaking in fear, appeared to be thin due to malnutrition, and some of them were missing fur.
One dog bit an Animal Control Officer as the officer tried to get the furvictim outside so the poor soul was euthanized. The report stated: “This dog was found to have extensive injury for not being properly cared for and getting the medical attention needed. Animal Control determined due to the extensive need of care that they could not provide and the fact that the dog bit an employee, the dog was euthanized.”
Two other chickens were found sitting on the porch outside with no food or water.
The Lake City Humane Society removed all of the Voiceless Victims.
NIMS was placed under arrest and booked into the Columbia County Detention Center.
The Lake City Police Department filed the following thirty felony counts of animal cruelty against him: five (5) counts of Torture Inflict Pain Serious Injury or Death, twelve (12) counts of Torment Deprive Mutilate, and thirteen (13) counts of Confine Animal without Sufficient food/water.
At the time of writing, arrest records show that NIMS is still in custody and a court date is not listed.
I took the liberty of naming the dog who was euthanized Pumpkin for the tribute image. Should his/her given name be made public, I will rectify it accordingly.
# # #
Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the arrest report. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.
In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.
NIMS’ mugshot shared from the Columbia County Sheriff's Office
#VoiceForUs #AnimalCruelty #AllLivesMatter #animaux #animales #animali #animalabuse #animalabusers #stopanimalabuse #stopanimalcruelty #Judges #cruel #evil #Florida #tiere #News #crueldadanimal #animalslivesmatter #law #lawmakers #prosecutors #Death #euthanasia #deathpenaltyforanimalabusers #cruauteanimale
