Florida Man Arrested for Slamming Dog into Concrete Over Bathroom Incident
A shocking incident in Osceola County, Florida, has led to the arrest of a man for a heinous act of animal cruelty. The Osceola County Sheriff's Office reported that a Florida man was apprehended after violently slamming a small dog into a balcony railing and then onto a concrete floor. The distressing event unfolded after the dog had an accident on a rug, according to authorities.
The 1-year-old puppy, named Lilly, was the unfortunate victim of this brutal act. Despite the traumatic ordeal, Sheriff Marcos Lopez revealed in a press conference that Lilly remarkably only suffered minor injuries. The incident, which occurred on December 26, resulted in the arrest of 28-year-old Marco Zuluaga on charges of cruelty to animals.
Responding to an animal abuse complaint at 1001 Jamison Loop in Kissimmee, deputies were provided with video evidence of the appalling abuse by the management of The Jamison Loop Apartments. The footage captured Zuluaga carrying the small Australian Shepherd, Lilly, who was adorned in a Christmas sweater, towards the balcony.
According to the authorities, the video depicted Zuluaga slamming Lilly against the railing and even contemplating throwing her from the third floor. The disturbing footage showed Zuluaga swinging the dog in a pitcher motion, causing Lilly to collide with the concrete floor. The impact was so severe that Lilly could be heard yelping in agony before fleeing from Zuluaga.
Despite the graphic nature of the video, authorities have chosen not to release it to the public. Zuluaga was identified as the suspect based on his driver's license and a FaceTime call where Lilly was present in the background. Subsequently, Zuluaga was arrested on December 26 and booked into the Osceola County Jail.
Sheriff Lopez expressed his shock and dismay at the level of violence inflicted on Lilly, stating, "The amount of force he uses is just disgusting, disturbing, and unacceptable, and it's a miracle he didn't kill that dog." Lopez emphasized the importance of treating animals with care and respect, highlighting that animals have feelings and should never be subjected to such cruelty.
Following the incident, Lilly was promptly taken to a vet by animal control. The examination revealed that Lilly had a dilated pupil in her left eye, indicating potential trauma, and deep-tissue bruising on her underbelly. Despite these injuries, Lilly is expected to make a full recovery under the care of veterinary professionals.
As part of his pre-release conditions, Zuluaga has been prohibited from owning pets. Currently, he remains in custody with a bail set at $5,000. The arrest and subsequent charges against Zuluaga have sparked outrage and condemnation from animal rights advocates and the general public.
