LAKELAND, Fla. — WARNING: This story includes graphic details regarding animal cruelty. Reader discretion is advised.
A man was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly left his three dogs alone with no air or water at his house in Lakeland, leading to one of them dying.
In a news release, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said Andrew Whitehurst, 26, is charged with three counts of animal cruelty, one count of confining an animal without sufficient food or water and one count of lying to a deputy.
The investigation began after deputies received a call for a well-being check at Whitehurst's home. The caller reported seeing skinny dogs inside, according to the sheriff's office.
Deputies arrived to find the home empty with a "foul odor." After retrieving his information, deputies called Whitehurst and told him to come back to his house.
When the 26-year-old arrived, he reportedly told deputies his name was "Kevin James" and that he was a friend of Whitehurst coming to check on the dogs.
Deputies were able to confirm Whitehurst was lying. After more questioning, Whitehurst admitted the dogs were his and that he left the house on Sept. 26 for work, assuming his father would show up to take care of them.
Animal cruelty investigators with the sheriff's office eventually arrived to find one of Whitehurst's dogs dead and the other two "obviously malnourished," according to deputies. Other observations included flies on the inside of the windows, floors covered in waste, no fresh water and no air conditioning.
Deputies added that the dog appeared to have died from a heart-related issue and was "beginning to decompose" when it was found. The exact cause of death is yet to be determined.
Whitehurst is being held in the Polk County Jail and is scheduled to make his first court appearance Thursday afternoon. The two dogs that survived were taken to Polk County Animal Control to be treated and rehabilitated, according to the sheriff's office.
