Owners arrested for leaving dogs 'for dead'

The dogs were almost skin and bone when they came into the Brevard County Sheriff's Office Animal Shelter in Melbourne, Florida two weeks ago.

"In terms of their body condition, they were about as bad as it gets," said the shelter's veterinarian, R.J. Edwards.

The dogs were discovered at a home on Babcock Street in Melbourne during a well-being check requested by a neighbor. Their owners allegedly moved out a month ago, and left the animals tied up in back with only a bucket of water.

"I look forward to the moment where we can walk them into the Brevard County Jail," said Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey several weeks ago.

On Wednesday night, he made good on that promise when detectives found the owners. The sheriff personally walked 38-year-old Daniel Puronda and 36-year-old Catherine Oyuela into jail.

A judge on Thursday found probable cause to charge both with two counts of felony animal cruelty and animal neglect. Both were given bonds between $8,000 and $10,000.

Thanks to the South Animal Care Center's compassionate and caring staff, the newly named "Mowgli" and "Balloo" are on the path to recovery.

"For these dogs to be running around and playing after just two weeks ago near death is incredible," said the Sheriff's shelter director Joe Hildebrand.