08/05/2026
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On July 30, 2026, the Citrus County Sheriffโs Office responded to a 911 call reporting alleged animal cruelty at a residence and business located at 4430 S. Tonya Terrace in Homosassa. The call was initiated after the owners of two dogs boarded at the Pampered Paws Ranch facility were informed that both animals had died while under the care of the business owner, Nicole Palmer.
Deputies and Animal Control Officers (ACOs) arriving on scene detected a strong odor consistent with deceased animals. Items connected to a dog-boarding operation were found in multiple locations across the property. Deputies were able to gain access to a converted garage where the two deceased dogs had been kept.
Inside the enclosed room, ACOs documented severe environmental neglect. The space contained large accumulations of f***s, urine, garbage, and debris. No visible water source was present, and investigators could not confirm the availability of air conditioning despite ongoing heat advisories.
Deputies identified a total of eight boarded dogs on the property. Conditions inside the main residence were similarly hazardous, including excessive waste, high indoor temperatures, and minimal access to clean water. One additional dog was found with a serious, untreated eye infection.
โ๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ก๐๐๐จ ๐๐ค๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ง ๐ฅ๐๐ฉ๐จ, ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎโ๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ง๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ ๐ก๐ค๐ซ๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐ค๐ข๐,โsaid Sheriff David Vincent. โ๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐ง๐ช๐จ๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐จ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐๐จ๐. ๐๐ช๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข ๐ข๐๐๐ ๐๐ฉ ๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ค๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ช๐ฃ๐๐ค๐ซ๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐ช๐ง๐ ๐ฃ๐ค ๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฃ๐๐ข๐๐ก๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง.โ
All remaining dogs were immediately secured by Animal Control. Several owners responded to reclaim their dogs, while others were transported to the Citrus County Animal Shelter for evaluation and evidence preservation.
Nicole Palmer, 43, of Homosassa, was arrested on two felony counts of animal cruelty. Additional charges may be forthcoming as veterinary examinations continue and the investigation progresses.
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