FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – Two men have been jailed after more than 20 dogs were found abandoned on the side of the road earlier this year, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
In a release on Wednesday, St. Johns County deputies said the case began early in May, when investigators found 23 dogs at the intersection of US-1 and County Road 204.
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Detectives said they discovered that the dogs had been taken by 32-year-old Austin Moore from his mother’s home in Palm Coast.
From there, Moore traveled to St. Johns County with 23-year-old Anthony Dunham, and the pair intentionally released and abandoned the dogs on the side of the road, leading to the death of three dogs, deputies added.
“The other 20 dogs were recovered and transported to local animal hospitals for treatment,” the release reads.
Meanwhile, deputies said the investigation led them to another Palm Coast home belonging to 48-year-old Carolyn Loveman, where they removed over 50 more dogs. Loveman was also arrested in May and charged with aggravated animal cruelty and 31 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty.
In all, 74 dogs were recovered across both county investigations.
“That anyone could consider doing what these two men did to these innocent dogs is sickening,” said Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly. “We don’t tolerate animal cruelty, and our team assisted our law enforcement partners to find these men, put them in the Green Roof Inn, and rescue more dogs in the process.”
Now, Moore and Dunham each face three counts of aggravated animal cruelty and 20 counts of animal abandonment.