A man was arrested in Martin County after a dog was found dead in a cage, deputies said.
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Jose Arreaga, 36, is facing several animal cruelty charges.
According to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, in early June, a media outlet was tipped off about reports of animal cruelty at a home.
The media outlet then told authorities, and an investigation was launched.
Deputies said that investigators went to a ranch at the 1600 block of Connors Highway in Canal Point and found a dead dog that was locked in its cage. The dog showed signs that it had starved to death.
As investigators continued to search the ranch, they found another dog that was under a trailer that was severely emaciated and couldn’t lift its head.
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A female dog with three puppies and a cat were also found, and they showed signs of neglect.
During the investigation, Arreaga was determined to be the owner of the animals, and told detectives he kept them on the ranch, and when he couldn’t take care of them, he relied on someone else to take care of them, but they didn’t.
Arreaga lives in Okeechobee, deputies said.
The surviving animals were taken to the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast for treatment, and will then be put up for adoption.
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Arreaga was then arrested and taken to the Martin County Jail.