A pair of Lady Lake dog owners could face steeper-than-normal fines if their dogs are not being properly cared for and if they can’t provide proof the dogs have been vaccinated.
Lady Lake Animal Control Officer Denise Williams laid out the case against the dog owners on Tuesday morning before a special magistrate in a hearing at Lady Lake Town Hall.
A complaint had been received about two Pit Bulls and a Chihuahua living at the home of Kevin and Demarious Booker at 107 Third St. in Lady Lake. The animal control officer found that the dogs were not current on their rabies vaccines, needed to be dewormed and had limited access to shelter.
On June 13, a new complaint was received about dogs barking at all hours of the day.
When the animal control officer returned, the Chihuahua was not there and had been given a new home. A third Pit Bull was being kept with the two Pit Bulls which had been there during the previous visit.
The dogs were tied up to trees, the water in their bowls was either very low or dirty and the owners could not provide evidence that one of the dogs had been vaccinated for rabies.
The owners will face a total of $750 in combined fines.
Due to repeated violations, Special Magistrate Valerie Fuchs agreed to grant Williams the authority to write citations with a $500 fine for each occurrence if the violations continue.
