The deputies had just gotten information that a hunting dog, severely gored by a hog, had wounds that were left untreated, according to a Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office arrest report.
But instead of a dog, deputies found a "severely emaciated" goat and a horse with a skin infection.
The property in the 5400 block of 208th Drive on Oct. 3 appeared barren. Deputies said they couldn't find any grass or food and only a pail of water that was green with algae.
Authorities seized the goat, named "Poncho," for medical treatment, but a doctor later euthanized the injured animal. The results of Poncho's necropsy showed severe and chronic disease along with scarred lungs and parasitic worms.
It's unclear what happened to the horse.
After that initial visit, deputies had called Bica, 47, to find out the dog was at Bica's dad's home on the 14000 block of Collecting Canal Road in Loxahatchee Groves, but he wouldn't be home for about four hours since he was in Okeechobee.
However, a person at the home led a deputy to the dog. And after seeing the injuries, the deputy asked for Animal Care and Control to respond immediately because the dog had a severe injury that was not being treated, according to the report.
Animal control gave Bica three options: They could seize the dog, have Bica surrender the dog or immediately take the dog to a veterinarian followed by animal control. Bica didn't appear to like any of those options, and argued that his dog, named "Red," didn't need a veterinarian, according to the report.
He finally agreed to take the dog to the vet, but said he couldn't do it at the moment because he had to pick his father up. Only when deputies threatened to seize the dog immediately, did Bica agree to take the dog to the vet.
A doctor at a VCA Animal Hospital described the infected wounds as jagged with muscles and trachea visible. The doctor said Bica use the wrong antibiotics and that the wound should have been stitched on the day of the injury.
Bica went to a follow-up appointment for the dog on Oct. 10 but deputies got a call from the hospital, saying Bica showed up but couldn't pay.
Five days later, a deputy and animal control officer met with Bica at the Collecting Canal property. A vet said the dog was improving and Bica showed proof of vaccinations, according to the report.
However, deputies arrested Bica on Tuesday because a vet had earlier determined that Bica purposefully neglected to properly treat Red and Poncho.
He faces two counts of animal cruelty and was booked into Palm Beach County Jail, where he is being held in lieu of $6,000 bail.
(Sun-Sentinel - Oct 23, 2013)
Severe injuries to the dog, Goat seized, horse in bad shape, no food, grass, and algae water. But yet gave him options rather that immediately seize the dog and he has attitude? What were they thinking ?
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