FORT PIERCE – Two people were arrested on April 16 by Fort Pierce Police in a case of animal cruelty at a home in the 1400 block of Georgia Avenue, Fort Pierce, according to police reports.
At about 2:20 p.m., April 16, officers responded to call for assistance from St. Lucie County Animal Control, which previously received a suspicious call relating to an inquiry about cremating dogs, according to police reports.
Officers found five bins in front of the home, each containing a dead dog, according to police reports. Officers subsequently discovered nine cats and two dogs inside the home. Another dog was found in the backyard, suffering from an injury, according to police reports.
Based on the condition of the home and animals, the dead dogs, and evidence at the scene, officers developed probable cause to arrest 23-year-old Thalia Ivette Flores for six counts of animal cruelty.
During the investigation, it was discovered that 20-year-old Wynter Ray Dodson removed the injured dog in the backyard to conceal it from police, according to police reports. Dodson was arrested and charged with obstruction of justice.
Flores and Dodson were taken to the St. Lucie County Jail.
Flores is in jail on a $45,000 bond, as of April 17, according to jail records.
Dodson remains in jail on a $2,500 bond as of April 17, according to jail records.
The remaining nine cats and three live dogs were seized by animal control and the dead dogs were taken for testing, according to police reports.