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Tampa, Florida. Animal Abuse. Five Dogs Neglected. November 2008.

Oh, I'm sorry. Have I introduced you to this nice couple over here? World, meet Wilmer Fernandez (34)and his wife Aixa Rodriguez (32). They live in Tampa, Florida with several children plus FIVE starving and abused dogs. The news reported that three of the dogs were tied up in the backyard with a leash that was too short to give them any room to exercise their muscles while two of the five dogs, boxer and dachshund, hadn't seen a veterinarian at all. One of the five was near death. A dog named Casper, according to the officers, was so sick that they could not tell what breed he was. All dogs were found to be hungry and thirsty. If on November 30, an investigator didn't coincidentally see an emaciated dog in the backyard of 12315 Cambridge Ave., where Fernandez and Rodriguez live, these dogs would have died a very cruel death. When questioned, the couple argued that they did not have the money to properly care for the dogs. Well, yeah, how could they afford vet care when fine furnishings were found at their home including a Lexus and a Cadillac in their driveway? What a way to live, pity on them, much more now that these pillars of society have been released on $6,500 bail, each. Spend money on dogs they chose to keep? What an odd idea. They require food and water? This all must be a misunderstanding, officer.

As if to prove that there is a correlation between human and animal violence, the couple was arrested last Summer for domestic violence. Hey, gotto give them credit for consistency.

Wilmer Fernandez and Aixa Rodriguez were charged with two felony counts of animal cruelty, two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and three misdemeanor counts of confinement of animals without food or water. In the meantime, they will be using up precious oxygen that we have to share with them.

About Casper, the dog:
http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=8004071&version=3&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/myfox/MyFox/pages/sidebar_video.jsp?contentId=8012859&version=1&locale=EN-US

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/hillsborough/020609_CoupleBanned

UPDATE : Wilmer and Aixa Rodriguez were found guilt of felony animal cruelty on August 14, 2009 in Tampa, Florida. Two veterinary doctors testified that Casper weighed only 32 pounds when the normal weight should be between 45 and 60 pounds. The defendants' argued that Casper's weight dropped on its own, and that Casper was like their own child. The Rodriguezes could face up to five years in prison come sentencing time.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I hope there is a special place in hell for these sickos. I also hope all their friends and co-workers know the truth about these horrible people. Of course if that is the case I am sure they have no friends or co-workers left. And I hope anyone with children keep their kids away from these abusers. If they will be this cruel to an animal, they would not think twice about abusing your child. SICKOS!!!!
AIXA'S BROTHER said…
HI EVERYONE I'M AIXA BROTHER AND SHE IS NOT HOW THEY MAKING HER LOOK LIKE.SHE LOVE ANIMALS AND SHE CARE FOR THEM THAT HOW SHE GOT INTO THIS THE PART THAT YOU DONT KNOW IS THAT SHE PICK UP THIS DOG FROM THE STREET AND LOOKING FOR HELP IS WHEN SHE GOT IN THIS HEADACHE.SHE LOVE ANIMALS WE WERE RAISE IN THE COUNTRY AND WE HAD DOGS CATS GOATS ROOSTERS AND WE CRY WHEN SOMETHING HAPPEN TO ANY OF THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE LIKE FAMILY MEMBER SO PLEASE DONT JUDGE IF YOU DONT KNOW THE HOLE STORY BECAUSE THIS CAN HAPPEN TO YOU TOO. WRONGFULLY BEEN ACUSE YOU WONT KNOW HOW IT FEEL UNTIL ONE OF YOU OF YOUR FAMILY GO THROUGH THIS. LISTEN TO BOTH SIDE OF THE STORY SO YOU CAN JUDGE AFTER. GOD BLESS EVERYBODY
Ted Teodoro said…
Aixa's Brother, thank you for commenting.

As I understand it, you are saying that it's all a mistake. Well, you can't accidentally starve a dog. Starvation occurs over a period of time, as in the case of Casper. The house was actively occupied with the dogs visible from their dining room. Sometimes, animal cruelty occurs out of spontaneous anger, but that is not the case here. This is cruelty through neglect, across a period of time.

Farm experience does not necessarily mean the person has compassion for animals. In fact, there is a lot of cruelty in the farms especially in factory farming. Not everybody in the farm business is compassionate to animals. I don't know if Aixa was compassionate to the farm animals or not. I am saying that farm experience should not be equated with being an animal lover.

They will have their day in court. They will have a chance to prove their innocence.
Kelly and Matt said…
THERE IS ABOSULTELY NO EXCUSE FOR THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR! If they couldn't afford to feed the dogs they should have taken them to a no kill shelter or found them homes. To sit by and watch them starve to death (on a daily basis no less) and claim they were trying to save strays is incomprehensible. They should have taken the plea deal becuase if I was on that jury they'd get the full 10 years without a doubt.
Anonymous said…
the couple certainly don't look like either of them have EVER missed a meal.
May they, and their neighbors who did nothing, and are just as guilty all get the pleasure of experiencing life at the end of a chain and starvation.
hell is too good for them.
god bless the judge. i hope the jury is even tougher.
Anonymous said…
WITH ALL RESPECT TO THE OWNER OF THIS BLOG;I LEFT A GOOD MESSAGE AND YOU DON'T POSTED.MY QUESTION IS ,IF YOU ONLY POSTED EVERYTHING AGAINTS THIS COUPLE OR YOU WANT EVERYBODIES OPINION.LET BE FAIR.GOD IS WATCHING US!
THANKS
Ted Teodoro said…
Anon:

Yes, you have sent in many comments, and I found them to be repetitive of your first comment on this post. You've had your say; repeating the same points does not make them stronger nor any more relevant. I suggest you contact Aixa's lawyer and offer your testimony for use in their defense.
Anonymous said…
I had the joy of seeing Casper last night at the Humane Society Fundraiser. He was happy, healthy and loving the attention! I just can not wait till the two "owners" have their day in court and hope to see them in jail for at least the three years. I hope they have child welfair looking into them as well as if you can eat dinner while looking at this dog starving you should not have any living thing including your children! They had a nice house, a Lexus and a Caddi but could not feed the dog...and then she has the nerve to say "god is good"? I hope she meets her "god" as he is obviously the one with a pitchfork and flames!
Anonymous said…
thanks to Aixa's brother for sticking up for her (as her brother one could not expect anything less) But please wake up and smell the ABUSE!!!! can someone PLEASE show him the pics!!!!
the poor dog was about to DIE. how long does it take to make a phone call to an animal shelter? nice try, but facts speak for them selves. Imagine what Casper's brother has to say about this all this...
Anonymous said…
No way am I going to post anonymously! That dog, and ALL animals, deserve people willing to take a stand against abusers. These pathetic humans will not go to jail because they have SEVEN kids. I assume these dogs were another form of OWNERSHIP that they display in their beautiful furniture, house and cars. It costs more to maintain inanimate objects like that than to feed a dog AND SINCE WHEN DID WATER GET SO EXPENSIVE???

When people cause harm, they righteously defend the reasons. THERE ARE NO REASONS FOR ABUSE.

AS FOR ALEXI BROTHER. GLAD YOU LEFT THE FARM SO THAT THOSE ANIMALS HAD A CHANCE. OR WERE THEY LEFT THERE CHAINED?
Trukindog said…
I think the only true justice would be to chain them both to a pole just outside a restaurant with a huge glass window where they could watch everyone eat but not be given even a crumb but given just barely enough water to keep them going while they STARVE until they were just a day from death. THEN SEND EM TO JAIL!

To Aixa's brother, it's nice of you to defend your sister, that's what blood does but heres a question for you,
Why the hell didn't you step in a help the dogs? After all "WE CRY WHEN SOMETHING HAPPEN TO ANY OF THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE LIKE FAMILY MEMBER" Your words not mine.
Ginger said…
These people claim they didn't have money to feed the animals, then give them to the shelter or find them another home. There are just no excuses that would justify this.
Unknown said…
I also will not post anonymously. The worst kind of abuse is the abuse against the helpless. Be that a child, the elderly and especially animals. The dogs did NOT wander up to these people's door and beg for a home. They were obviously gotten by this couple, but for what reason? To enjoy and love as members of a family? I think not! I am afraid to think of what went on at the farm. Thanks to Dana for this link.
Anonymous said…
I simply cannot understand people with this mindset. I am a runner and kept seeing this dog tied up in the Florida sun. I thought 'I must just be catching this dog outside when the owners put him out for his business.' So I started running at a different time periodically through the month. This poor dog was in 105 temps with no shade. He had dug under his dog house for protection. There was a neighbor next door sitting by her pool in the shade of large trees, drinking a drink of some sort. I said to her 'Is that house abandoned? Why is the dog always in the elements?' She said 'Oh it is just an outside dog.' I wanted to give her a good verbal lashing but she told me enough. I went home, called Animal Control anonymously and the next day the animal was gone. I wrote AC and thanked them for their actions. I understand the dog was probably put down because we have so many unwanted pets in shelters due to the economy but at least he did not have to suffer any more. He use to sit and watch the neighbor as if to say 'Please talk to me - notice me.' I rescued 3 stray dogs and spent a great deal of money to get them healthy. I woudn't give them up for anything! If I had not had my three I would have taken this dog in as I would talk with him during my runs and he was very sweet. Shame on the owners and the neighbor.
Ted Teodoro said…
Anon,

Thank you for commenting. You seem to be the kind of person who makes this world a better place, and you shouldn't be anonymous.

Well, we don't know for sure if the dog was put down. I volunteer at an animal shelter and we take in whatever the animal control officer brings. I don't know the set up down there, and I can only hope that AC does not euthanize dogs quickly. I sure hope that dog was given a chance at adoption since it wants to live, evinced by its digging underneath the doghouse.

Ted
Kelly E. said…
This is so sad. I'm glad that they were arrested however in my opinion they should have face charges for corruption of minors. Not only were these poor animals being neglected day in and day out but the children watched it. Child learn what they see. I hope that these two did actual time in prison and that when they are out have to pay fines and volunteer in an animal sanctuary. Thankfully animal abuse is becoming more published and there are more animal rescues popping up. Animals need heroes too.

Kelly E.

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