Lecanto woman cited with 8 counts of animal cruelty/neglect
Graphic courtesy of CCSO.
Citrus County, Florida - On Wednesday, February 15, 2023, Citrus County deputies and animal control officers responded to a S. Otis Avenue, Lecanto residence, the home of 69 year-old Debora Lavoie, as the result of a report made to the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) that a person was breeding and selling animals at the residence that were being kept in inhumane conditions.
At the residence, officials found ten animals, eight dogs and two cats, living in poor conditions.
Standing outside of the home, deputies smalled a strong urine odor coming from the inside of the home. Inside the residence, they found dog cages containing feces, urine soaked carpeting, and food bowls that contained no food or water. All the dogs had dried fecal matter on their coats, and they appeared to be suffering from malnutrition.
Deputies determined that the best course of action would be to remove all ten animals from the care of Ms. Lavoie, who was charged with eight counts of animal cruelty/neglect and issued a citation for a mandatory date to appear in court.
"It is appalling to see so many animal neglect cases within our county," said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast. "I am extremely thankful for our team of animal control officers, who work diligently to better the lives of these helpless and innocent animals. The exceptional staff at the Citrus County Animal Shelter, who continuously provide these seized animals with the much needed love, care, and nourishment, should also be commended for their tireless efforts."
Animal Control Officers are available to respond to routine calls for service between 8:00 and 8:00 pm, every day of the week, including holidays. Emergencies are responded to 24 /7. Requests for service should be made to he CCSO Communications Center at 352-249-2790, or by dialing 9-1-1.