PORT ST. LUCIE — Following a four-week investigation, two Port St. Lucie residents were arrested on May 19 on felony animal cruelty charges regarding eight dogs allegedly neglected or mistreated at a home.
Joseph Salvatore Calafiore, 36, and Alexandria Francesca Fiorenza, 33, were arrested on eight counts each of animal cruelty following an investigation that began on April 20, according to a St. Lucie County Sheriff’’s Office Facebook posting.
Detectives initially responded to a home in the 300 block of Northwest Biltmore Street, Port St. Lucie, following an anonymous tip about concerns regarding multiple dogs living in deplorable conditions, according to the Facebook posting.
Investigators discovered eight dogs suffering from severe dehydration, malnutrition, flea infestations, hookworms and prolonged exposure to unsanitary living conditions which were contaminated with urine and feces. Several animals were found significantly underweight and in obvious distress, according to the Facebook posting.
In addition, some dogs lacked access to clean water and were trying to drink condensation runoff from an air conditioning drain line to get some sort of hydration, according to the Facebook posting.
The eight dogs were removed from the residence and taken to a nearby animal hospital where veterinary staff later confirmed the animals’ conditions were consistent with ongoing neglect and failure to provide necessary care, according to the Facebook posting.
Calafiore and Fiorenza were in the St. Lucie County Jail as of May 19 on a $200,000 bond each for eight counts of animal cruelty, according to jail records.