Florida dog owner caught on camera slapping cowering pooch
A Florida dog owner has surrendered his pooch to authorities after he was caught on camera punching and slapping the animal, according to reports.
The man, who has not been identified or charged by police, was recorded abusing the 2-year-old pit-Lab mix, Adi, Sunday near Intracoastal Park in Boynton Beach, news station WPBF reported.
The video shows the brute with Adi on a leash, as he leans over the cowering canine. He then repeatedly punches and slaps her from above.
Stacey Rybak, who had been walking her dog, said she spotted Adi running loose shortly before the man pulled up in a car.
“The owner bent down and grabbed the harness and just started to beat the dog,” Rybak told news station WPTV.
She recorded the horrifying episode on her phone and then called 911 to report the man.
The man claimed Adi had escaped from his house and was running up to a smaller pup, ignoring his commands to return home — and he was afraid his pet was going to attack the smaller animal.
“There’s no question I was wrong for what I did, but they didn’t understand the circumstances,” he told WPBF.
Cops said they interviewed the man and brought Adi to a vet to be evaluated, the outlet reported.
She will remain in the custody of local animal control until the investigation is completed.