A 52-year-old man of Cuban descent was arrested in Lehigh Acres, Lee County, Florida, after authorities discovered 10 puppies locked inside a truck parked in the garage of his home.
The dogs were without access to food or water and in unsanitary conditions.
The arrested individual has been identified as Erick de Jesús Canoura, whose Cuban origin has been confirmed by CiberCuba.
The arrest occurred on Tuesday, November 10, according to the Lee County Sheriff's Office (LCSO).
Canoura was already listed in the Lee County Animal Abuser Registry due to previous incidents related to the treatment of dogs.
Despite the restrictions imposed on him, investigators linked him to an ad posted on Craigslist offering puppies for sale.
An advertisement for selling puppies triggered the investigation
The investigation began when authorities detected a post on Craigslist advertising puppies for sale.
The investigators linked the announcement to Canoura and coordinated an intervention between the Special Unit against Animal Cruelty of the Sheriff's Office and the Lee County Domestic Animal Services (LCDAS).
The operation also involved agents from the Second District and detectives from the Crimes Section of that jurisdiction.
When the agents arrived at the residence in Lehigh Acres, Canoura initially denied having puppies in his custody.
According to WFLA, the man claimed there were no puppies on the property, but one of the agents replied that he could hear the dogs inside.
Canoura then allowed the authorities to search the residence.
During the inspection, the agents arrived at a closed garage where they found a Chevrolet Suburban with 10 puppies confined inside.
The vehicle had only one window partially open.
The animals showed visible signs of distress. They were panting heavily, had matted fur, and were covered in urine and feces. None had food or water when they were found.
The condition of the vehicle and the state of the puppies warranted their immediate rescue.
According to the report from the Sheriff's Office, the temperature inside the van reached 83.3 degrees Fahrenheit, equivalent to about 28.5 degrees Celsius.
The 10 puppies were rescued and transferred to receive veterinary care
The agents removed the ten animals from the truck and transported them to the Domestic Animal Services of Lee County, where they were placed in custody for a veterinary evaluation.
A video recorded by a police body camera shows part of the rescue operation and the preparations to transport the puppies.
The authorities did not specify the exact ages of the animals, their breeds, or whether any had injuries or illnesses that required additional treatment.
After the rescue, detectives from the Second District Crimes Section and members of the Special Unit Against Animal Cruelty continued the investigation.
The investigators executed a search warrant at the residence and found additional evidence that, according to the Sheriff's Office, linked Canoura to the puppies and their sale.
As a result, the man was arrested and charged with cruelty to animals, confinement of animals without sufficient food, water, or exercise, and violation of a county ordinance.
The sheriff condemned the conditions in which the animals were kept
The Lee County Sheriff, Carmine Marceno, condemned the conditions in which the puppies were found and assured that his department will continue to take action against those who mistreat animals.
“These puppies were subjected to atrocious conditions, and that is something I will never tolerate in Lee County,” declared Marceno, as reported by Telemundo 51.
"Our Special Animal Cruelty Unit will continue to work alongside our partners from Domestic Animal Services to ensure that those who mistreat or neglect defenseless animals are held accountable," she added.
Previous convictions for animal cruelty and ban on owning dogs
Canoura had previously faced investigations and proceedings related to animal mistreatment in Florida.
In December 2021, he was arrested in Miami-Dade County after authorities found 31 dogs, including 30 puppies and one adult, in unsanitary conditions inside a garage.
The animals were confined in stacked cages, surrounded by feces and urine, in a dark space. Two of them were found inside a cooler.
Subsequently, between 2022 and 2024, Canoura received at least seven administrative citations related to animal treatment in Lee County.
In September 2024, he was arrested again after authorities found five dogs in similar conditions near his home in Lehigh Acres.
In January 2025, Canoura pleaded guilty to two lesser charges of animal cruelty. As a consequence, he was placed on probation and subject to restrictions that prohibited him from owning animals.
Also he was registered in the Lee County Animal Abusers Registry, established by Ordinance 23-30, approved in December 2023.
This registry allows authorities to identify individuals with specific records of animal abuse and establishes identification obligations and restrictions on animal ownership for those subject to its provisions.
The new investigation began precisely after the authorities linked Canoura, already included in that registry, to an advertisement for the sale of puppies.
In addition to the charges related to the conditions in which the ten animals were found, the detainee also faces a charge for violating a county ordinance.
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