The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Sarasota couple on charges of Animal Cruelty after they failed to care for several horses living on their property. Four horses were found on March 1 by inspectors at 16444 Windburn Place. Three of the four horses were underweight. Owners Benjamin and Wendy Watson agreed to take part in a six-week program to better care for the horses and feed them on a more regular schedule. Follow-up visits showed the two had not kept up with the feeding schedule. On April 25, the animals were found to be underweight and suffering medical issues. The animals were signed over to the sheriff’s office with a judge giving the Watson’s back one of the four horses. The two turned themselves in to authorities and have been charged with failure to act and confinement of animals without water.
Deputies also arrested a 53-year-old man for animal cruelty after he didn’t take care of horses, cows, goats, a donkey and other animals that were on his property. Ramon Gonzalez said he had fallen on hard financial times and was arrested on July 6th.