ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando area prosecutors are seeking four animal cruelty charges toward a Puerto Rican national they say left four puppies in a car at Disney Springs in May when he stopped to get something to eat. One of the puppies was later euthanized, according to the affidavit.
The June 13 affidavit prepared by Ninth Judicial Circuit said Wilson Cortes, 39, was driving four "Burmese Mountain Dog, Poodle, and Australian Shepherd" mixes he purchased to Orlando International Airport on May 4 to fly back to Puerto Rico. He told investigators he stopped at Disney Springs to get food for his family, waiting in line for pizza "when he noticed the line was not moving fast enough he decided to leave Disney Springs and walk back to his vehicle," the affidavit stated.
A Disney Springs deputy located the dogs in the back of an SUV and notified Orange County Animal Services, which later seized the dogs.
Four windows in the vehicle were "slightly cracked" the affidavit said. While three puppies were stable when authorities opened the car, one puppy was unresponsive and taken to the Animal Kingdom hospital.
An Orange County Sheriff's Office deputy reviewed body camera footage and said there was almost two-hour period between Cortes leaving and returning to his car.
The affidavit referred to the puppy's death as "cruel and painful." In the affidavit, a Reedy Creek firefighter provided a sworn statement regarding the condition of the animals:
"(The firefighter) stated that after they gained access to the rear of the vehicle where the dogs were, he noticed that it was hotter than any other part of the car. (He) stated that three dogs were found panting excessively and were immediately treated by placing water and cool packs on them. (He) stated that a fourth puppy was found inside of a soft collapsible crate, confined and compressed underneath clothing and other suitcase bags.
"The puppy was in severe distress with a respiratory rate of more than 100 breaths per minute and a heart rate of more than 300 beats per minute. The puppy was also hot to the touch and covered in her own saliva from panting. The puppy also had a flattened appearance from the confined area she was found in. Leonard stated that the puppy was immediately removed and placed inside of the rescue ambulance for cooling."
Cortes left the scene and the puppies were not released to him, the affidavit said. Prosecutors are seeking four animal cruelty charges and Cortes' extradition.
"Three survivors, now going to good homes," Orange County Animal Services wrote on Facebook.
