Spring Hill Couple Gordon, Vara Charged in Animal Cruelty Over Malnourished Dogs
Stephen Gordon, 34, and Christina Ann Vara, 32, were charged after deputies found three severely malnourished dogs confined to a small porch at 3239 Southwest Boulevard in Spring Hill.
Hernando County deputies say 34-year-old Stephen Gordon and 32-year-old Christina Ann Vara face three counts of animal cruelty each after officers found three dogs "living in poor conditions, suffering from malnutrition and untreated injuries, outside their home" at 3239 Southwest Boulevard. The arrest affidavit says deputies responded to a report of animal cruelty on December 10, 2025.
Animal Enforcement Officer M. Rowe took custody of all three dogs at the scene and the animals were transported to Hernando County Animal Services "for medical treatment and evaluation," according to the arrest affidavit and agency records cited in the investigation. Investigators were told the dogs had been regularly fighting over scraps of food left outside, and the affidavit notes injuries on the animals that were "consistent with fighting between the dogs."
Court records show Gordon and Vara were each released on a $3,000 bond. The case remains pending in Hernando County court. At a hearing on February 13, 2026, Vara stated she owned the French bulldog and the blue-nose pit bull and "confirmed that she and Gordon lived together at the residence and shared responsibility for caring for the animals on the property."
Officials have not released detailed veterinary findings for the three dogs seized from the Southwest Boulevard property. Public records and the reporting available state only that the animals were taken to Hernando County Animal Services for evaluation; no medical diagnoses, treatment outcomes, or final dispositions appear in the arrest affidavit excerpts provided so far.
The Gordon-Vara case comes amid other recent animal-cruelty incidents in the Spring Hill area that have drawn county resources and public attention. In a separate case deputies responded to a Beaver Avenue call on January 8 involving Raymond and Christina Courts and a Doberman mix named Edie Jo who was found "in grave condition"; in another Hernando County matter investigators reported X-rays showing dozens of BBs and lead pellets in two dogs after a 37-year-old woman admitted to shooting her pets. Those cases are distinct from the Gordon-Vara prosecution and involve different defendants, addresses and charges.
Beyond criminal counts, the investigation at 3239 Southwest Boulevard highlights ongoing pressure on Hernando County Animal Services and the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office to address severe neglect and animal fighting allegations. The arrest affidavit and agency seizure document probable cause and immediate removal of the animals, but key questions remain about the dogs’ medical status, any prior complaints tied to the address, and the prosecuting agency’s next steps in court.
The criminal case against Gordon and Vara remains active in Hernando County court; prosecutors and Hernando County Animal Services have not released further details about the animals’ conditions or upcoming court dates in the records cited in the arrest affidavit.
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