- Florida, USA -
The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office arrested 21-year-old SAMANTHA LYN HEWARD and her mother 42-year-old MELISSA DAWN HEWARD (both pictured).
In a press release, the sheriff's office said that on August 19, 2024, its Animal Control Unit removed several animals from a home on West Akazian Lane in Homosassa.
According to the sheriff’s office, “Animal Control has been aware of issues regarding loose dogs and allegations of neglect” at the aforementioned home, “with 38 calls for service.”
Officers have attempted to work with the mother to allow her time to get all the animals up to date on rabies vaccines and county licenses and provide medical care for some minor medical issues the dogs were experiencing.
Officers also repeatedly suggested she get rid of some of her dogs to make it easier to care for them.
In late February 2024, the mother was mandated to provide medical care for three dogs with skin issues and hair loss, and according to the sheriff’s office, she complied with that mandate.
Four months later, in June 2024, officers went back to the home for a follow-up visit. The officers reported that the conditions inside the residence had deteriorated slightly but did not warrant the removal of the animals. Once again, officers “encouraged” the mother to reduce the number of dogs in her care and she surrendered three puppies and five cats.
The woman did surrender the cats and the puppies and officers continued to monitor the well-being of the remaining animals and living conditions.
On several follow-up visits, however, officers did not find anybody home and therefore they couldn’t report back on the conditions of the Voiceless Victims.
On August 15, 2024, officers returned to the home following reports from neighbors who heard frequent dog fights. During that visit, the mother agreed to surrender two dogs, but admitted she had not complied with the mandate to get the remaining dogs the required rabies vaccinations.
The woman was advised to get veterinary care for the dogs who received minor injuries during the dog fights.
On August 19, 2024, when Animal Control Officers went back to the home, they were “permitted to access the residence for the first time since June 2024”, stated the release.
According to the sheriff's office, they “found that conditions inside the home were significantly worse than on any previous visit and immediately requested deputies to respond.”
Five cats and eleven dogs were removed after they were found to be living in “to inhumane and unhealthy living conditions.” Several dogs and cats had minor medical issues and had not received proper care.
Deputies then learned that two minor children were also living in the home, so they alerted the Department of Children and Families (DCF) that responded to the scene and removed both juveniles.
Additionally, County Code Enforcement responded to the home being considered an unsafe structure.
On August 19, 2024, deputies arrested the mother and daughter and booked them into the Citrus County Jail.
The mother was charged with ten counts of animal cruelty associated with the eleven dogs living in the home.
The daughter, who “claimed ownership and care of the cats”, was charged with four counts of animal cruelty and one count of aggravated animal cruelty.
All of the Voiceless Victims were surrendered to the county and are being medically evaluated and receiving the care they need and deserve.
Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast said: “𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙧𝙪𝙚𝙡𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙧 𝙣𝙚𝙜𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩. 𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨, 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙢 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚.”
On August 22, 2024, an update by the sheriff’s office advised that the mother is also facing two counts of child neglect, two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and violation of felony probation.
Those of you who are familiar with my stand on these kinds of situations, know that if it was up to me, I would just apply the “nip it in the bud” policy. I believe that all of the innocent souls should have been removed right away! They were failed by so many……
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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office. 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.
Mugshots shared from the Citrus County Sheriff's Office
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I wholeheartedly agree with the author of VFU in her “nip it in the bud” stance. Why must these innocent souls be allowed to live in such squalor whilst they ‘work’ with these lazy fools? I am happy these souls were finally removed from this mess but I am angry it took so long to remedy this situation! I pray their lives are better & they receive their loving family & home.