A 58-year-old Deltona woman, Kristi Lynn Kilby, is facing two counts of animal cruelty. This development follows an investigation where Volusia County Sheriff's deputies and Deltona Animal Control officers found two English bulldogs living alone in a house described as filthy, lacking running water, and with floors coated in waste. Investigators indicated that the conditions inside the residence were worse than what was visible from the outside.
The case originated from an anonymous tip, prompting deputies and animal control officers to respond to a residence on Monica Street. Deputies arrived on a Sunday morning, observing the two bulldogs to be extremely dirty and underweight. The floors were covered in dog waste, and the Volusia Sheriff's Office reported that the dogs were living alone with minimal contact from a caretaker. Deputies identified Kilby as the property owner and located her at a separate home. She then permitted deputies to enter the Monica Street house, where they confirmed the severe conditions, including a complete absence of running water. Kilby subsequently surrendered both bulldogs to Deltona Animal Control. She was then transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail to face the two animal cruelty charges.
This arrest adds to a series of recent animal neglect cases in Volusia County. In a separate incident in Osteen, deputies arrested 34-year-old Samantha Ashby after discovering ten animals living in what the Volusia Sheriff's Office described as conditions of significant concern. That case involved two dogs found in crates, one of which was surrounded by what deputies characterized as substantial amounts of feces, with neither animal having access to food or water. Eight cats were also found in a room where the odor was so strong it caused responding deputies to cough and gag. Ashby was booked on ten counts of animal cruelty at the same Volusia County jail where Kilby was taken.
Under Florida law, animal cruelty is defined as any act of neglect, torture, or torment that inflicts unjustifiable pain or suffering upon an animal, according to state statute. Unnecessarily tormenting an animal or depriving it of essential sustenance or shelter is classified as a first-degree misdemeanor. This offense can carry penalties including fines up to $5,000 and possible imprisonment. Intentionally causing an animal's cruel death or repeated unnecessary suffering is considered a third-degree felony, punishable by fines up to $10,000.
Separately, in nearby Orange City, officials are considering a new civil ordinance that would enable them to issue citations for animal cruelty, abandonment, and failure to provide adequate food. This proposal follows an amendment to Florida Legislature allowing municipalities greater authority to impose civil penalties for animal control violations. The proposed rules in Orange City suggest fines reaching up to $2,500 for a first violation, $5,000 for a second, and $7,500 for a third or subsequent offense, which are the maximum amounts permitted under state law. Additionally, anyone cited for a second or later violation would be required to appear in county court, although commissioners may still revise this specific provision. It is important to note that a civil citation under Orange City's proposal would not prevent a separate criminal investigation or prosecution from proceeding under state law.
