- Florida, USA -
The DeLand Police Department announced the arrest of 55-years-old KEVIN PROULX (pictured) on felony animal cruelty charges.
On June 16, 2023, police responded to PROULX’s home on 406 Pursley Drive for a well-being check after a report of dogs barking.
Upon arrival, responding officer Watts saw two dogs in the front yard of the residence. According to a criminal complaint, the dogs were barking and appeared to be scared. Officer Watts knocked on the door in an attempt to make contact with the homeowner but no one answered. She said a dog was inside the property and was barking. As officer Watts walked to the side of the home, she found a hound mix puppy lying under the opening of an air conditioning pipe that dripped water. Sadly, the 9-month-old puppy was deceased. Officer Watts reported that the puppy “was very skinny” and his/her mouth was under the opening of the pipe as if he/she was “attempting to catch the water and then passed away.”
Officer Watts then went into the backyard of a neighbor so that she could look into PROULX’s backyard and saw three more dogs. Two of them were in the yard and the other one was inside the property.
All five dogs were very skinny and there was no food or water in the backyard.
After several attempts to knock on the door, PROULX “stumbled out of the garage with feces on his feet”, stated the complaint. Officer Watts reported that PROULX “advised he was having a heart attack and wanted to go to the hospital.”
DeLand Animal Control and Volusia County Animal Control responded to the scene to help catch the dogs.
Animal Control Officers estimated that weeks or even months’ worth of feces was in the residence.
In the criminal complaint the dogs were identified as:
A brown and white female German Shorthair Pointer approximately 2-3 years old named Kiara.
A male gray Weimaraner approximately 3-4 years old named Ghost.
Three hound mix puppies, approximately 9 months old, two males and a female.
All five dogs were transported to the DeLand Police Department’s kennel while the deceased puppy was taken to the DeLand Animal Hospital.
Officer Watts did a walk-through the residence to make sure there were no other dogs and found trash all over the place, “empty bottles of liquor”, and feces and urine indicating that the dogs were not being let out to go potty. There was no food or water inside the home and the residence was “trashed from the dogs tearing everything apart from being stuck inside.”
Officer Watts then went to the hospital to talk to PROULX about his dogs and he “advised he would willingly surrender all of his dogs to the DeLand Police Department.”
If the scum had done this sooner, the pup who was found deceased could have been saved!!!!
At that point Officer Watts read PROULX his Miranda rights.
On June 20, 2023, DeLand Animal Control Officer Fiore took Kiara, Ghost, and the three puppies to the DeLand Animal Hospital for checkups.
Results showed that Ghost’s body condition score was 3 out of 9 with prominent ribs, spine, and hip bones, and moderate muscle loss. Ghost weighed only 59 pounds.
Kiara’s body condition score was “3/9 but borderline 2/9”. Kiara had calculus and enlarged nipples consistent with a prior pregnancy. Kiara weighed only 37pounds.
The three live puppies were all underweight. Their hip and spine bones were showing, as were their ribs. Vets also reported almost complete lack of body fat.
As for the deceased puppy, the criminal complaint stated that he/she “was presented dead on arrival. Necropsy was not an option due to elapsed time from death.”
The medical report determined that the dogs were in the condition they were in due to lack of proper nutrition and water. “The condition was chronic in nature. The dogs’ necessary care, both feeding and otherwise, was neglected.”
PROULX was arrested on Thursday, July 6, 2023, and booked into the Volusia County Correction Center on six counts of felony animal cruelty.
Online records show this filthy drunk was released the same day after posting bond.
His arraignment scheduled for July 7, 2023, was cancelled and PROULX is slated to be in court on July 27, 2023, at 1:30 p.m.
Police said Kiara, Ghost, and the three puppies were taken in by the Florida Pointer Rescue.
PROULX said the puppies did not have names, so I took the liberty of naming the deceased furbaby Tulip for the tribute image.
Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.
Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.
PROULX’s mugshot shared from the DeLand Police Department.
Additional Source:
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