WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – A Winter Haven man is facing an animal cruelty charge, a third-degree felony.

  • Winter Haven man accused of animal cruelty
  • Fernandez Gunter was arrested Wednesday
  • Authorities found flea-infested, malnourished dogs in his backyard

Fernandez Gunter, 51, was arrested Wednesday. Deputies said he was negligent in the care of five of his dogs.

“When detectives got there, they found these dogs flea-infested and they had no food, no water out there and the puppies very thin,” Polk County Sheriff's Office public information officer Brian Bruchey said.

A tip kicked off the investigation back in December. Deputies said they found one puppy deceased in Gunter's backyard.

“There were three other puppies and an adult dog that had a chain collar around its neck so tight that it was digging into the neck and the skin was actually growing over and into the chain,” Bruchey said.

(Photo Courtesy of Stephanie Claytor/Spectrum Bay News 9)

Animal control officers seized the four remaining dogs. One of the puppies was so malnourished, it had to be euthanized.

“They were in bad shape,” Bruchey said.

Two of the dogs have been adopted. The injured dog remains at the animal shelter. It had to undergo surgery on its neck to get the collar removed.

“Right now, we’re guessing it might be two weeks before the dog will be able to be adopted out. We’re going to make sure that she recovers fully,” Bruchey said.

“She’s looking healthy right now and looking a lot healthier than when she walked in.”

Gunter has since bonded out of jail. According to the arrest affidavit, Gunter told authorities he was aware of the embedded dog collar but could not catch the dog to get it off.