BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – The husband of a Merritt Island woman who was arrested last week on animal cruelty charges is now facing charges of his own, according to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.
In a release, Sheriff Wayne Ivey announced that the husband — Richard Cleveland, 44 — was taken into custody on Monday afternoon.
Ivey said the investigation began last month after a Rockledge officer tipped Ivey off to a puppy mill allegedly run across three separate properties by Richard Cleveland and his wife, 36-year-old Elisabeth Cleveland.
Throughout the investigation, detectives discovered that dogs had been left out in the sun without proper shelter, with food dishes containing vomit and water pails being filled with mold, Ivey added.
Dogs at one of the couple’s properties had even been found living beneath floorboards, the sheriff’s office reported.
According to Ivey, the puppy mill was operated online via Curio Kennel on Weebly. He urged the public to avoid buying any more animals through the website.
As of Monday, though, the sheriff’s office has rescued 59 dogs and three cats from the Cleveland couple.
“We are going to continue to pursue every lead,” Ivey said. “My goal is to keep these people locked up where they can never have any type of other pet. They shouldn’t be allowed to own a pet rock, much less anything like this.”
Elisabeth Cleveland faces 134 counts of animal cruelty, ranging from misdemeanors to felonies. She was released on Friday on a bond of $259,000.
She told News 6′s James Sparvero Tuesday she was preparing a statement.
“I do have one that I would like to put out to the media. I’m waiting on my lawyer,” Cleveland said.
Meanwhile, Richard Cleveland faces 97 counts of aggravated animal cruelty and 38 counts of unlawful confinement without food, water, and/or exercise. He is held on a bond of $261,500.
His attorney, Jim Kontos, argued Cleveland’s wife was more connected to the allegations.
”If you read the arrest warrant, the majority of the conversations between police were with Mr. Cleveland’s wife.” Kontos told Judge Kelly Ingram.
Judge Ingram ordered Cleveland not to have any more animals should he post his new bond amount of $116,000.
“When I look at these accusations, there were absolutely deplorable conditions for these animals,” the judge said.
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