After a Puerto Rican man was accused of abandoning his four pups in his fancy automobile while he was at Disney Springs for supper with his family, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office issued an arrest warrant affidavit on animal cruelty charges. According to the complaint, 39-year-old Wilson Nieves Cortes left his puppies in the parking garage since Disney Springs didn’t have any fast-food outlets. According to the affidavit, Nieves Cortes, 39, was found guilty of four counts of animal cruelty. Three of the dogs survived and seemed to be well, playing with officials; one had to be put down.
Because the defendant is believed to have returned to Puerto Rico right after this occurrence, I am asking that no bond be granted and that the defendant be extradited nationwide if the arrest warrant is approved,” the arrest warrant affidavit stated. When Florida Politics asked for public records on the case on Tuesday, the State Attorney’s Office—which decides whether to pursue crimes—did not have any. On May 4, police were dispatched to the Lime Parking Garage in the well-known Disney Springs dining and retail center. According to the affidavit, four three-month-old puppies were left in the back of a black Mazda CX-5 with four windows slightly broken, and someone heard them barking.
Heartbreaking information about the deceased pet was included in the affidavit. One puppy was discovered “confined and compressed underneath clothing and other suitcase bags, inside a soft collapsible crate.” With a heart rate of over 300 beats per minute and a respiratory rate of over 100 breaths per minute, the puppy was in extreme distress. In addition to being hot to the touch, the dog was drenched in her own saliva from panting. Because of the cramped space in which she was discovered, the dog also appeared flattened, according to the affidavit. “Despite being soaked in water already, the puppy appeared lifeless, was completely limp in his arms, and was very hot to the touch.”
The first responders from Disney’s Central Florida Tourism Oversight District placed the puppy on a stretcher and transported it to the Animal Kingdom Animal Hospital. Authorities later declared the puppy to be in severe condition, and it was put down. According to the affidavit, “the defendant never inquired about the puppy they had transported to Animal Kingdom and showed no signs of concern for the animals.” “He added that after being informed that he would not be receiving the puppies, the defendant left the scene.” The Orlando International Airport station recorded 77 degrees and 77% relative humidity on May 4. Based on historical meteorological data from the National Centers for Environmental Information, the heat index was around 78 degrees.