Melissa Pérez-Carrillo
Sarasota Herald-TribuneThe 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.
Natasha Wilhelm, 39, and Sean Hubschmitt, 40, were arrested on Nov. 20 for animal cruelty after two dogs that were in their custody were found dead, and two dogs were euthanized by veterinarians due to their deteriorated condition.
Wilhelm and Hubschmitt told deputies that they had to move out of the residence that the dogs were found in due to issues with the house and finances days before Hurricane Helene impacted Sarasota on Sept. 26. Necropsies on the two dogs that were found dead showed that their cause of death was due to starvation. The dogs were named Shylin, Tank, Rocky and Piccolo.
The four dogs were owned by Wilhelm and Hubschmitt and were not connected to any clients, court records show. "K9 Training for Heroes" shouldn't be confused for "Canines for Heroes," another Sarasota-based dog training business for veterans that has no connection to "K9 Training for Heroes."
Wilhelm and Hubschmitt didn't respond to requests for comment by Sarasota Herald-Tribune reporters.
Sarasota County deputies responded to 4087 Vana Drive in Sarasota on Oct. 27 after a neighbor called about abandoned dogs. The neighbor said that she hadn’t seen anyone visit the house since Sept. 25., there was an “unbearable” smell coming from the house, and there were malnourished dogs in cages. Another nearby neighbor had dragged one of the dogs in its cage to the lanai and gave it some water. The dog was described to be extremely malnourished and emaciated with puss on his eyes, laying in his own fecal matter.
“The defendants did fail to act in their dogs’ care which did result in an excessive or repeated infliction or unnecessary pain or suffering, and ultimately their cruel deaths,” deputies wrote in a report.
Deputies reported a strong smell of decomposition coming from the back of the residence and made entry for a welfare check. The house was reported to be in a state of disarray with animal feces everywhere and a strong odor of decomposition, feces and urine present. A second dog was found inside in a similar physical condition.
A third dog was found dead in one of the bedrooms, and a fourth dog was found dead near the lanai. Deputies said that the fourth dog was “unrecognizably decomposed” within its own cage. No water or food was found with the dogs besides what the neighbor provided after finding them. Necropsies on the two dogs that were found dead showed that their cause of death was due to starvation.
“No signs of underlying disease that would cause this degree of malnutrition were found,” a veterinarian told deputies.
The dogs that were still alive were taken to BluePearl Pet Hospital at 7414 S. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, and the dead dogs were taken to Sarasota County Animal Services for further processing. Both dogs were euthanized due to their condition.
Natasha Wilhelm and Sean Hubschmitt confirmed that they had custody of the dogs and they had the current lease for the home they were found at. They told deputies that Shylin died before Hurricane Helene impacted Sarasota on Sept. 26, and they planned to bury her in the yard but were unable to because of Hubschmitt’s physical conditions and ailments. Deputies wrote that there was evidence in backyard that was consistent with their statement.
They told deputies that they had to move out of the residence due to issues with the house and finances days before Hurricane Helene impacted Sarasota. They moved in with Hubschmitt’s parents in Sarasota but were unable to take all of their dogs with them. They told deputies that they were taking turns visiting the dogs, along with their daughters, to check, feed, water and walk the dogs.
While they still had a lease and rights to the property, they were not actively living there.
“However, there may have been some communication issues and physical limitations which caused the dogs not to be checked on as they intended,” deputies wrote in the arrest report.
