PANAMA CITY — Police Monday arrested a Panama City man after finding three dogs and several small animals dead from starvation in a home he rented.
Scott Allen Watkins, 30, was arrested on 12 counts of aggravated animal cruelty after police found at least three dogs, some rats, snakes and a parrot dead in apartment 10 at 3415 W. 19th St.
The animals were discovered on March 18, when the landlord stopped by to check on the condition of his property and smelled the decaying remains, according to police records. The landlord told police Watkins had not been at the location for two months and had been staying with his ex-wife.
Police and animal control officers found two dogs dead in a bathroom and another dead in a bedroom. The rest of the animals were found dead throughout the residence.
“All of the … animals starved, and suffered a cruel and inhumane death,” Watkins’ arrest report says. “All of the animals lost a high percentage of their normal body weight as they suffered malnutrition over an extended period of time.”
Records indicate the animals died from lack of care sometime between Jan. 18 and March 18. Police got a warrant for Watkins’ arrest Friday, and he was arrested Monday.
Watkins appeared in court Tuesday, where his bond was set at $24,000 total for 12 felony counts. A phone number listed for Watkins is no longer in service, and he could not be reached for comment.
Watkins has a history of animal-related crimes. He was cited by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in 2003 for possession of venomous reptiles without a license and improper caging of venomous reptiles, misdemeanors for which he was later convicted. He was charged with keeping six deadly snakes at a friend’s house in that case.