Florida: Police say Jerry Volcimus, 24, left his dog to suffer with worsening mange and then lied to them and said he'd taken him to a veterinarian

FLORIDA -- During the month of July the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Animal Enforcement Unit received an anonymous complaint about a dog in Palm Bay that was sitting on a porch with it’s face covered in blood.

Animal Enforcement Officers from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office were immediately dispatched to investigate the incident.

Upon arrival at the residence, our Animal Enforcement Officers located a 4 month old male puppy locked inside a crate in a hot garage.

The puppy, later identified as “Wolfie” was emaciated, had a severe case of mange and was extremely malnourished.

As a result of “Wolfie’s” critical condition our Animal Enforcement Officers immediately removed him from the home and transported him to our Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Animal Services Veterinarian, Dr. Sarah Boyd for medical treatment.

Dr. Boyd examined “Wolfie” and concluded that he was in severe pain while listing him in extremely critical condition.

LIED ABOUT PROVIDING VET CARE TO PUPPY
“Wolfie” was subsequently determined to belong to Jerry Volcimus who claimed to have sought medical attention for “Wolfie’s” skin condition at a local Veterinarian.

When interviewed by Animal Enforcement Officers and Animal Cruelty Investigators, Volcimus would not provide, so our team could verify the name or location of the Veterinarian he had taken “Wolfie” to and was also unable to produce any proof of payment for Veterinarian services.

Pursuant to a thorough investigation by our Animal Cruelty Investigator and Animal Enforcement Team our agency subsequently requested through the Brevard State Attorney’s Office an arrest warrant for Jerry Volcimus for Felony Animal Cruelty Causing Pain and Suffering.

Fortunately, because of the quick actions of a concerned citizen and our Animal Enforcement Officers “Wolfie” received the care he needed from our Veterinarian Team and is now in a loving home where as you can see from the photo he is recovering very well.

Volcimus was taken into custody last night by members of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office South Precinct and was transported to the Brevard County Jail so he could receive the attention he so desperately deserves in our Criminal Justice system.

I want to truly commend the citizen who followed our community’s mantra of “see something/say something” and in doing so saved this dog’s life while helping to get a heartless criminal off our street.

On Wednesday, Oct. 12, Volcimus, 24, was arrested and charged with animal cruelty resulting in pain and suffering. He is being held at the Brevard County jail on $2,000 bond.

Why aren't they charging him with false reporting? In the legal system, that's worse than animal cruelty and carries a much stiffer sentence. 

(Space Coast Daily - Oct 13, 2016)