[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 01/02/20]
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DeLAND, Florida — An escaped cow led to the arrest of a DeLand woman for animal cruelty and neglect Monday.
A Lake County Sheriff’s deputy responded to Forest Drive on a report of a cow blocking the roadway, shortly before 5:15 p.m. Monday, according to an arrest affidavit. Forest Drive is in Lake County, but has a DeLand address. The deputy was able to get the cow out of the road and summoned a Lake County Animal Control officer (ACO) for assistance.
The arresting deputy inspected a nearby fence at 33027 Forest Drive where the cow belonged and was approached by five additional cows and one calf, all showing signs of malnutrition, the affidavit states. The cow found in the roadway appeared to be of a good weight, the deputy noted in the affidavit, but he was informed by neighbors the cow escapes frequently to go find food, but the others do not.
The complainant advised the deputy, Janette Falcon, 55, had not fed the cows for more than a month and the cow that escaped, constantly escapes to graze for food. The complainant said he used to work for Falcon and helped care for the cows, but since her husband died, she has not paid for feed, or his services. It’s unclear when Falcon’s husband died.
The complainant said over the past month, he has reached out to Falcon about the care of the animals, but she refused to pay for feed or services. He offered to help Falcon sell the cows and offered to buy them, but she refused that as well.
The residence at the property was destroyed by fire Dec. 11 and the livestock were left behind, the deputy stated in the affidavit. The deputy and the ACO were unable to find accessible feed, hay and fresh water. “The pasture consisted of mud, with very short and limited vegetation, and no dry area for the cows to pasture,” the deputy stated in the affidavit.
Falcon arrived on scene while the deputy and the ACO were investigating and told them there was food and water on site. She took them to a small, locked shed where she showed them some half-empty, small bags of food that were unaccessible to the cows. While walking the property, the deputy and the ACO observed a miniature horse in a separate field. That pasture was also muddy and only stagnant, algae-covered water was available to the horse.
“This has happened before, and I just upped the food for awhile, Falcon said, according to the affidavit. She also said the ACO should cut her a break, “out of the kindness of their hearts.”
Falcon went on to explain she restricts the cows’ water and she brought fresh water for the horse, but instead used that water to clean the mud off her shoes, the deputy noted.
Falcon was charged with six counts of animal cruelty and two counts of animal neglect. She was released from the Lake County Jail on $14,000 bond.
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. In addition, she has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
