Hand, charged with 5 counts of animal cruelty, set for sentencing

On November 26, 2017 at around 6:20 pm, Port St. Lucie Police went to the 4900 block of NW Ever Road for reports that multiple dogs have been left in an abandoned home. Once on scene officers saw three Pit Bulls in poor condition staring out of the windows of the home. Police made entry into the home and discovered two more dogs, which appeared to be very ill and extremely emaciated.

Inside the home police discovered the house to be in deplorable condition with trash, animal feces, and bugs covering the majority of the interior. Further inspection of the home revealed holes in the walls, which appeared to be caused by the dogs trying eat through the walls in an attempt to get out of the house.

Port St. Lucie Animal Control donned on Hazmat gear to enter the home and rescued 5 Pit Bulls. St. Lucie County Fire Rescue responded as a smell of propane gas was detected during the initial entry into the house.

The dogs were taken to the Veterinarian Medical Center of St. Lucie County for treatment. The animals have been treated and are now in stable condition. The dogs have been transferred to the St. Lucie County Humane Society.

Based on the condition of the dogs and evidence at the scene it is suspected that the dogs have been in the home for up to 30 days.