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Town 'N Country Animal Find Leads To Woman's Arrest

News Channel 8 photo by MICHAEL EGGER

Hillsborough County Animal Services removed almost two dozen dogs and cats from a Town 'N Country house on Feb. 1, 2008.

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 6, 2008

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Nineteen animals were found in a sea of their own waste at Cynthia Annette Cuervo's home Friday, including the remains of what was thought to have been a dog, authorities say.

Cynthia Cuervo

Hillsborough County deputies arrested Cuervo on Tuesday night. She was charged with 20 counts of animal cruelty, 20 counts of improper confinement of animals and 20 counts of not providing water.

The animals rescued from the property likely will recover, Hillsborough County Animal Services spokeswoman Marti Ryan said.

There were 16 live dogs and three cats.

Before coming into Animal Services' care, the creatures were emaciated and ridden with parasites, Ryan said. They had to be fed slowly because their systems were in shock.

"Most of them have recovered from their fear of humans," Ryan said. "A couple still have some issues."

On Friday, Cuervo's neighbor told the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office about a possible burglary in progress at Cuervo's home, 8202 W. Crenshaw St., after seeing a light flicker, authorities said.

Instead of a burglar, deputies found distressed animals living in their own fecal matter and urine, said Sgt. Pam Perry of Hillsborough County Animal Services.

Three of the dogs jumped through a broken window when deputies arrived, authorities say. Cuervo wasn't home when investigators were on scene, and it isn't immediately clear whether she lives at the property or has more than one home, Ryan said.

Investigators cited Cuervo in May and took six dogs from her, saying the animals had been mistreated, Ryan said. A judge dropped the charges against Cuervo, but those dogs were placed in other homes.

The animals found Friday remain fragile and aren't suitable or available for adoption, Ryan said. They likely will end up in foster care until they can be adopted.

Cuervo, 42, remained in Orient Road Jail this morning.

Her bail was set at $50,000.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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