A 56-year-old Ocala man was jailed after selling a woman a kitten infested with fleas and suffering from internal parasites.
William Mieras was arrested this week on a warrant charging him with forgery of an official certificate of veterinary inspection, a third-degree felony. He was charged following an investigation by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
The woman went on July 8 to Mieras’ home at 135 Pecan Pass where she looked at a male Bengal kitten that he was selling. She put down a $300 deposit.
She returned Sept. 7, paid an additional $300 and took the kitten. She was given a health certificate from a veterinarian.
On the ride back home, she discovered that the kitten had fleas and appeared to be sick. She took the kitten to a veterinarian and it was diagnosed with coccidia. The vet bill cost her $348.18.
Upon inspection, the woman discovered that it appeared the gender of the kitten had been changed from female to male on the certificate of health which Mieras had provided.
The investigator checked with the veterinarian at Maricamp Animal Hospital who said that Mieras originally made an appointment for two cats, but only brought in a single kitten. The veterinarian said she issued one health certificate for a female kitten.
Mieras was booked at the Marion County Jail. Bond was set at $2,500.
