Polk County sheriff's deputies found eight dead animals at a pet store that had its electricity turned off for five days because the owner failed to pay the electric bill.
Diana Cabrera, owner of Noah's Ark Exotic Pets, 3632 U.S. Highway 92 E., Lakeland, said she was out of town but had asked someone to take care of the pets at the store while she was away, the sheriff's office said.
The sheriff's office received a call Monday regarding dead animals at the store. When the sheriff's animal control arrived, the owner of the strip mall allowed investigators into the store.
The temperature inside the store was more than 100 degrees and deputies found eight dead animals, including a lizard, a duck, a rabbit, two exotic birds and three chickens. Investigators found more than 50 other animals alive, but they had no water in their cages, deputies said.
Animal control seized the animals and staff veterinarians examined them, deputies said.
The animals seized are one turtle, one duck, one quail, two gecko lizards, two parakeets, three finches, four parrots, eight cockatiels, 10 hamsters and 21 chickens and pigeons.
Lakeland Electric turned off the electricity to the pet store because of unpaid bills. The electric company said it sent a letter Aug. 23 to Cabrera, the pet store owner. The letter was sent to her home and informed her that the power to the store was going to be turned off Aug. 25.
Cabrera told investigators that she was out of town Aug. 20-27 and had left a caretaker to care for the animals at the pet store.
Cabrera, 27, of Lakeland, on Tuesday surrendered all the animals to the sheriff's office.
Detectives are continuing interviews and trying to learn who was left in the role of caretaker at the pet store.
The case remains under investigation.
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