Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Antonio Casmento, of Plant City, on charges of animal cruelty, after finding a neglected and injured water buffalo in his possession.
At about 10:15 a.m. Friday, Jan. 16, agriculture detectives from Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office were called to the 2900 block of S. Frontage Road in Plant City, to check on the welfare of a water buffalo calf that was tied closely to a fence post and appeared to be in distress.
When detectives arrived, they discovered that the calf’s head was tied just inches from the fence post. Upon further examination, they noticed an injury on the calf’s eye, which appeared to have been caused by the rope rubbing the eye as the calf tried to free itself.
Detectives cut the rope to free the calf, but found a second rope embedded in the calf’s neck muscle tissue. The calf was seized and given medical care from a large animal veterinarian.
Upon further investigation, detectives learned that sometime in the month of October 2014, Casmento had tied a lead rope around the neck of the calf. Casmento did not adjust the rope as the calf grew larger. This is how the rope became embedded in the calf’s muscle tissue.
The calf is about six months old and is currently recuperating under the supervision of a veterinarian. It is expected to fully recover.
