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Animal Services: Starved Dogs Seized From Plant City Home

Hillsborough County Animal Services

This female bull terrier was seized from the Plant City home of Herminio Soto.

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 18, 2008

Updated: 09/18/2008 02:22 pm

Herminio Soto

TAMPA - When Hillsborough County Animal Services investigators went to the Plant City home of Herminio Soto, he told them he could starve his old dogs if he wanted to, investigators say.

Investigators found two dogs that were yellow when they should have been white because they were kept in such poor living conditions, Animal Services spokeswoman Marti Ryan said. The dogs, both bull terriers between 8 and 10 years old, were malnourished and dirty.

Soto told investigators the dogs were old and needed to die, a criminal arrest affidavit states. He said, "These were his dogs and he could starve them if he wished, and it was better for them than taking them to a vet or putting them to sleep," Ryan said.

When investigators asked what Soto fed the dogs, he told them the dogs "ate off the ground when he allowed them to run in the yard," Ryan said. "He said there were orange trees in the yard. He said the dogs could eat oranges off the ground if they were hungry."

Investigators asked Soto whether he was serious.

"He said, 'Yes. All dogs eat fruit,' " Ryan said.

One of the dogs has gained 10 pounds in a week since Animal Services seized it, Ryan said.

Three other bull terriers were seized, a 1-year-old male and two puppies. Those dogs appear to be in stable condition, Ryan said.

Ryan said Soto's wooden house at 404 E. Knights Griffin Road was filled with considerable dog feces.

Soto, 58, was arrested and charged with two counts each of cruelty to animals (starvation), both felonies, and misdemeanor confinement of animals without food or water.

Soto, listed in jail records as unemployed, is being held at the Orient Road Jail with bail set at $5,000.

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