A Lehigh Acres is banned from owning animals and faces new animal cruelty charges after deputies say they found dogs in deplorable conditions.
According to the arrest report, Erick Canoura, 50, kept dogs in cages submerged in muddy, feces-infested water.
Deputies discovered the dogs while investigating a stolen skid steer near Canoura's home on Palmetto Avenue.
They found three dogs in a cage with 3-5 inches of muddy water and feces. Two more small breed dogs were found in a crate without food or water.
"It's sad. It's inexcusable really, you know," said Dr. Andrew Church of North Shore Animal Hospital. "They can't regulate their temperatures as much. So when it's hot and humid, as much as it bothers us, it bothers them even more."
Neighbors also reported seeing deputies busting down the front door of the home about three months ago.
NBC2's investigation revealed that Canoura faced seven previous counts of animal cruelty last year.
"The fact that they're in cages filled with their own wastewater from all the rain, we've had that not even looking at a disease standpoint, just a quality of life standpoint," Church added.
Canoura faces five counts of aggravated animal cruelty with excessive pain or death. He is expected to appear before a judge on October 1.