A man from Broward County could be facing serious charges after deputies say he left ten dogs inside a storage unit without any food, air conditioning and in deplorable conditions.
After responding to a call on June 3 regarding suspicious activity at TMT Properties, an outside storage facility located near the 900 block of Northeast Ninth Street in Pompano Beach, Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies said they encountered a unit from the facility emitting a potent odor.
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Authorities confirmed the storage unit belonged to Cassius Ali Cooper Jr., 34, of Fort Lauderdale.
Investigators said they were forced to break into Cooper’s locked unit with bulk cutters after “fearing for the safety” of the dogs after a neighboring tenant claimed he heard them crying and whimpering from the inside.
After opening the unit, authorities said they found four dog cages, positioned on a loft near the ceiling, containing a total of ten dogs — puppies and full-grown adults alike.
“On the floor of the cages were encrusted feces and filth. As we pulled the dogs from the cages, the smell emanating from them was gag-worthy. Some of the puppies even had feces stuck to their face,” a deputy wrote in the arrest report.
Of particular concern was the presence of a heavy metal chain encircling the neck of one of the adult dogs, which deputies say was indicative of potential mistreatment and abuse.
Deputies also confirmed that there was “no food in the cages and minimal water that was brown and not fresh.”
Further investigation revealed Cooper has a troubling history of animal cruelty offenses. Broward County Animal Control confirmed that he had previously been implicated in a case involving 16 dogs subjected to cruelty at a previous residence.
Jail records show he is facing 10 counts of animal cruelty involving torment and animal cruelty resulting in deprivation and mutilation of animals.
As of Friday, Cooper is being held on a $10,000 bond at the Broward Main Jail.