DAVIE, Fla. — Robert Lee Hoover, owner of Family Farm in Davie, Florida, is facing 16 counts of animal cruelty after investigators found disturbing conditions and malnourished animals on his property.
According to an arrest report, Davie Police executed a search warrant and discovered several animals in poor condition, including:
Emaciated cows allegedly fed only when visitors purchased food
A sunburned pig with raw and bleeding skin
A malnourished horse suffering from an untreated eye injury
Police noted that no veterinary records were available for any of the animals on the property. Officer Daniel Broder stated in his report that “when examined, they all needed some sort of care from a veterinarian.”
A woman who had worked at the farm for two weeks—but had been volunteering for eight months—told officers she rarely saw hay in the enclosures and that the only available food was carrots, corn on the cob, and lettuce—the same food sold to visitors for feeding animals. Authorities called this diet nutritionally inadequate.
Hoover appeared in Broward County court on Friday, where his attorney claimed the allegations stemmed from a personal vendetta and that past accusations had been dismissed. “Someone living in a $2 million home in a gated community probably has no idea exactly how a farm operates,” the attorney argued.
Despite this, the judge found probable cause for the 16 charges and ruled that Hoover must have no contact or possession of any domestic or farm animals.
Hoover remains in custody at the Broward Main Jail on a $28,500 bond.
