SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – The owners of K9 Training for Heroes, a Sarasota dog training business for veterans with PTSD, have been arrested after four dogs died in their custody and now a court date is approaching for the pair.
In October of 2024, police were dispatched to a local business after getting a call about abandoned dogs. The caller mentioned that the building seemed abandoned and there was an odd smell coming from the house.
The caller also mentioned they had seen “malnourished dogs” in cages though the windows.
Another neighbor attempted to provide aid to one of the animals and “dragged one of the dogs in its cage to the Lanai and tried to provide it water”. This witness also mentioned the dogs seemed malnourished.
Deputes noted the strong smell of decomposition from the back of the house, and entered to me a welfare check.
The residence was in “a state of disarray”, covered in feces, and strong odors, according to a probable cause affidavit. Another dog was found alive, but in a similar state as the other. A third dog was found dead in its cage in a bedroom, and a fourth was found “unrecognizably decomposed” in a cage outside. No food and water were found on the property, except for the supplies brought by neighbors.
Shylin and Piccolo were found dead by deputies. Tank and Rocky were found alive, but in poor conditions.
Piccilo and Shylin’s cause of death were starvation.
Wilhelm and Hubschmitt both say Shylin died before Hurricane Helene hit Sarasota in October, but they were unable to burry her because of Hubschmitt’s physical ailments.
Wilhelm told detectives that her oldest daughter said Piccilo died in her arms after suffering a seizure. There is no clinical evidence to prove this.
The deceased dogs were taken to Sarasota County Animal services for further investigation, and the dogs found alive were taken to Blue Pearl pet hospital. Both dogs taken to Blue pearl eventually had to be put down due to their severe condition.
All of these animals were in the care and custody of Natasha Wilhelm and Sean Hubschmitt.
Wilhelm and Hubschmitt are being charged with three counts of aggravated animal cruelty.
The pair are set to appear in court on Jan. 3, 2025.
Copyright 2024 WWSB. All rights reserved.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
