A Tavares woman was arrested on a warrant this week after 31 emaciated cows were discovered on her property.
An animal cruelty investigator responded to the property of 62-year-old Lori Ann Gonzalez to check on the welfare of her cattle on Atlantis Road in Tavares on April 13, according to an affidavit of probable cause out of Lake County.
Watching from the road, the investigator observed multiple zebu-type cattle within a fenced-in pasture. They all appeared to be in extremely poor condition, with prominent ribs, spines and pelvic bones. They looked severely emaciated, and none of them was chewing cud. This is a continuous and essential digestive process in ruminant animals like cattle, the affidavit said.
The pasture consisted primarily of bare sand with little to no viable forage available. Minimal remnants of hay had been trampled into the ground, contaminated with feces and not safe for consumption, the report said.
Deputies with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office had a search warrant in hand by 3:13 that afternoon. They found 31 cows on the property that were taken to a shelter for further evaluation and care, the affidavit said.
The following day, each animal was documented, photographed and given a body condition score. This is a standardized and widely accepted evaluation method used by veterinarians and livestock professionals to assess the nutritional condition of cattle. The scale ranges from one to nine and is based on visible fat and muscle coverage over key areas, such as the ribs, spine, hips and tailhead, the affidavit said.
The scoring system provides an objective measure of whether an animal is receiving adequate nutrition over time. Cattle with scores of one or two demonstrate prolonged deprivation, not a temporary or acute condition. A review of the livestock documented in this case revealed an overwhelming majority scored between one and two, the affidavit said.
The photographs taken of the cattle clearly depicted animals with pronounced ribs, visible spine processes, prominent hip and pelvic bones, and significant muscle wasting. Fecal testing identified the presence of gastrointestinal parasites, including whipworms and strongyles. However, the parasite load was described as present, but not of sufficient severity to account for the degree of emaciation seen across the herd, the affidavit said.
A doctor of veterinary medicine concluded that the condition of the herd was the result of prolonged inadequate nutritional management, and the animals experienced undue suffering. The level of malnutrition would have resulted in weakness, impaired immune function, and an increased susceptibility to disease and environmental stressors, the affidavit said.
Gonzalez was arrested on a warrant Wednesday charging her with 31 counts of animal cruelty. She was booked at Lake County Jail and released after posting $77,500 bond.