Choose principles local animal rescue proprietor violated bond, ought to await trial in jail

The controversial operator of the previous Out of the Box Rescue in Floral Metropolis, Robert Schweickert, will sit in jail as he awaits trial.

Circuit Choose Richard Howard ruled that Schweickert violated the terms of his bond after assistant condition lawyer Patricia Diaz played an audio recording that Schweickert very last Friday unintentionally still left on the cellular phone of an animal manage officer.

Diaz explained the recording demonstrates that Schweickert was in possession of animals since the recording showed Schweickert talking to pet dogs and contacting one particular by identify, Woman Bug. Diaz informed Howard that Girl Bug was when a dog at Schweickert’s rescue.

Schweickert instructed Howard that his cellular phone dialed the telephone range of the animal regulate officer even though he was at his father’s household dropping off a power drill. He explained he went to his father’s residence, but his father was not household so he entered the garage by a side doorway and there encountered his father’s puppies.

“I did not expect the puppies to be there but they ended up,” Schweickert told Howard.

“None of these canines do I own,” he stated.

Schweickert, of Dunnellon, faces 4 felony cruelty to animal billed and 23 misdemeanor animal cruelty rates. Citrus County also filed a civil scenario versus Schweickert.

As element of Schweikert’s bond he is not to have or care for any animals.

In the civil scenario by the county versus Schweickert, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office environment animal handle unit supervisor testified that pet dogs at Schweickert’s rescue heart had no h2o, food, and had eaten the drywall and insulation out of the walls.

A sheriff’s business animal management officer testified that some puppies saved indoors had no lights, no power, and no air flow.

The county’s animal companies main veterinarian testified that 20 puppies have been underweight, 10 dogs were being emaciated, and two pet dogs suffered from unpleasant contaminated wounds prompted by shocking bark collars, two dogs endured from unpleasant, untreated ear infections, 18 canines experienced heartworms which is existence threatening if not treated, 1 canine wanted hospitalization, dozens of canines experienced dirty hair coats, feces in their fur, and smelled bad due to the fact of inappropriate care.

The veterinarian also testified 13 dogs experienced orthopedic ailment, nine were dehydrated and necessary IV fluid, and eight puppies had viral and bacterial higher respiratory ailments because of their residing problems and weak air good quality.

The county described horrific scenes at Out of the Box like cage flooring soaked in urine and feces and cages much way too compact for the animals.

1 doggy was purchased by the court docket to be euthanized since the animal was further than help.

In the telephone recording presented to Howard, Schweickert is heard telling barking puppies to “shut up, shut up” and making use of profanity on a single occasion.

Scheickert’s lawyer, Luke Lirot, advised Howard that the recording did not confirm his client owned or cared for the canines.

Schweickert’s father, Robert Schweikert Sr., explained to Howard the dogs had been his and he had asked his son to fall off the electricity drill.

Diaz requested the father if the canine had been his, why experienced he not registered them with the county. He replied that he registers his pet dogs only when he takes them to the veterinarian.

A private investigator for Diaz also testified throughout the bond listening to that he noticed two goats at Schweickert’s home. His attorney replied that they belonged to a neighbor and the goats typically split free and venture onto neighbors’ property to try to eat the grass.