BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Thanks to a citizen who spoke up for the helpless, a Titusville man who allowed dogs in his care to starve — two to death — was arrested via warrant on animal cruelty charges Wednesday, according to Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey.
In a video posted to the sheriff’s office’s Facebook page, Ivey outlined the arrest of 38-year-old Robert Swindoll, starting with that crucial tip a day prior.
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“A citizen thankfully called our animal enforcement team, told us that there were some dogs in distress over at a certain house. Our animal enforcement team responded to that location, they couldn’t make contact with anybody, but they were able to look over and see that there were two dogs that had expired, two dogs that had died, and another that was extremely emaciated,” Ivey said.
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According to Ivey, the two dogs that were starved to death and the other found alive belonged to someone other than Swindoll who wasn’t allowed to see them, yet brought food to no avail.
“The actual owner of the pups was not allowed to be at the residence anymore and was actually taking dog food over, providing food, and this guy (Swindoll) let the dogs starve to death — actually took care of his two dogs, but let these other dogs starve to death, two of them starve to death — the other one’s in sad, sad shape, our veterinarian team’s taking care of it,” Ivey said. “So, we’re gonna put this guy in jail, and by law, we will take care of him, we’ll feed him, which he didn’t do for these dogs, and that’s sad and unfortunate that we’re going to do that.”
Swindoll faces three counts each of cruelty to animals involving pain or suffering and cruelty to animals involving confinement without sufficient food, currently held on $7,500 bond, court records show.
See Ivey’s video below.
CONTENT WARNING: Video contains images of sickly and deceased dogs.
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