TAVARES, Fla. — A Tavares woman is facing 31 animal cruelty charges following an investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office that began in April.
Lori Ann Gonzalez, 62, was arrested Wednesday and released from the Lake County Jail on $77,500 bond early Thursday morning, according to LCSO online booking records.
A livestock welfare complaint led authorities to a pasture in unincorporated Tavares, where cattle were found severely emaciated, launching an animal neglect investigation, LCSO Public Information Officer Deputy Stephanie Earley told Inside Lake last month.
Lake County Agricultural/Marine Unit and Animal Enforcement officers responded to 28304 Atlantis Road on April 13. From the roadway, deputies could see several zebu-type cattle in an enclosed pasture in poor condition, with ribs, spines and pelvic bones clearly visible, Earley said.
The pasture consisted largely of bare sand and appeared to lack an adequate food source. Authorities obtained a search warrant for the property, but Gonzalez surrendered the livestock before it was executed.
Each animal was evaluated and assigned a Body Condition Score, or BCS, according to the affidavit. BCS is a standardized scale used to assess the nutritional condition of cattle and ranges from 1 to 9 based on observable fat and muscle coverage over key anatomical areas.
A BCS of 1 reflects severe emaciation, and animals at that level are considered to be in critical condition, the affidavit states.
The majority of the cows had a BCS between 1 and 2, according to the affidavit. The veterinarian who examined the cattle concluded their condition was the result of “prolonged inadequate nutritional management” and that the animals had experienced “undue suffering.”
The cows have found new homes.
“They were all adopted by experienced cattlemen, none were euthanized,” LCSO Sgt. Jim Vachon told Inside Lake Thursday.
Previous story: Emaciated cows surrendered to deputies Monday near Tavares – Inside Lake
