Martin County Man Arrested on 5 Animal Cruelty Counts After Deputies Find Dead, Starving Dogs on Connors Highway Property

Deputies responding to a tree farm on Southwest Connors Highway in Martin County found what they described as a scene of systematic neglect: a decomposed dog locked in a makeshift enclosure, a second dog so emaciated he appeared dead, three flea-ravaged puppies hiding beneath a house, and a pregnant cat whose four kittens were born stillborn the night she was rescued.

Jose Arreaga, 34, identified as the manager of the property at the 16000 block of Southwest Connors Highway, was arrested Tuesday on a warrant for five counts of animal cruelty, a first-degree misdemeanor. He was booked into Martin County Jail on $12,500 bond. A judge imposed a bond condition barring him from owning or maintaining any animals.

The investigation began June 2 when a community outreach manager contacted the Sheriff's Office after receiving an anonymous tip that included photographs allegedly showing deceased dogs on the property. Deputies responded June 4, entering through an open gate and finding conditions that matched the photographs.

The most urgent case was a cream-colored male Anatolian shepherd — referred to in reports as Dog 2 — found collapsed beneath a tractor, unable to lift his head or move, showing visible signs of pain around his neck. No food or water was found nearby. Deputies initially believed the dog was dead. He weighed 54 pounds upon arrival at the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast; the average healthy weight for a male Anatolian shepherd is approximately 120 pounds. His condition was consistent with severe medical neglect, starvation, and malnutrition, according to the Humane Society's lead veterinarian.

A reddish-brown female dog named Gorda was found loose near the residence, severely flea-infested and heavily lactating. In one of the homemade enclosures — a round structure with a tarp for a roof, its gate tied shut with rope — deputies found the decomposed remains of a medium-sized blonde dog. Food and water bowls inside were filled with sand. One hind leg appeared possibly fractured, consistent with being caught under the cage wall, deputies said. After consulting with a veterinary forensic scientist from the ASPCA, investigators determined that felony charges related to the deceased dog would not be pursued due to advanced decomposition limiting any definitive finding.

Three of Gorda's puppies, approximately four weeks old, were recovered using a trap the following day. All three presented with severe flea infestations, open sores, and lethargy; the infestations were so significant that each required multiple baths at the Humane Society. Arreaga also surrendered a brown domestic shorthair cat, underweight and anemic, who delivered four stillborn kittens the night of her arrival.

Veterinary records show Gorda and Dog 2 both tested positive for heartworm disease. Dog 2's injuries included confirmed anemia, possible spinal fractures, disc injury, and cervical abnormalities. All three puppies were diagnosed with ringworm, bacterial skin infections, and hookworms. The cat presented with a heart murmur and heavy flea infestation.

The five misdemeanor counts are based on findings that Gorda, her three puppies, and Dog 2 were all deprived of adequate food, water, and nutritional care necessary to maintain their health.

Arreaga's first court appearance in Martin County had not been scheduled as of press time.

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