A 16-year-old Palm Coast boy captured on a pair of Snapchat clips repeatedly whipping a small, whimpering and yelping dog, was arrested at his B-Section home Monday and faces a felony charge of animal cruelty.
Another teen unrelated to the 16 year old was scanning through Snapchat items when he came across the videos showing the dog being beaten. He showed the videos to his aunt, who was disturbed enough to contact the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies reviewed the videos at the aunt’s house.
Deputies and the aunt’s nephews had no other clue beside the Snapchat videos’ user name. But the sheriff’s report notes that “the snapchat location was on and the location was pinging” to a specific address in Palm Coast. Deputies got there a little after 10 p.m., and spoke to a teen who acknowledged taking the videos of the beatings. The teen told deputies he’d been visiting his friend, who became frustrated when his friend’s dog defecated in his room instead of outside. That’s when the beatings took place.
Deputies located the 16 year old boy at his home , speaking to the boy–a student at Matanzas High School–and his mother. According to his arrest report, the boy said he has two dogs, a 1-year-old pit bull mix and a 7-year-old mix of unknown breed called Mr. Kush–the dog in the Snapchat videos. He told deputies that he normally disciplines his dogs with a belt. In this case, the dog would not relieve himself outside, instead heading for the 16 year old’s bedroom and doing so there.
According to a deputy who reviewed the videos, “The first video showed a small brown and white dog being grabbed and held to the ground as it attempted to run towards a black wire crate. The dog was loudly crying and the subject proceeded to strike it three times with a small thin strap. The dog cried again, loudly, as it was struck. The dog proceeded into the crate, which was then shut by the male. The dog appeared to cower in back of the crate as the subject continued to verbally scold it. The dog was also licking the area where it was struck, showing it was in pain.
“A second video showed the same subject and same dog in a different location. The subject was seen pinning the animal down by the neck and striking it with the same strap. The animal cried as it was struck, and was able to break free of the subject’s grip. As it escaped the subject, continued striking the dog. The dog bit at the subject as it attempted to escape, and the subject can be heard aggressively scolding the dog for the bite.”
Laughter is heard during one of the beatings.
Palm Coast Animal Control took custody of the two dogs and took them to Flagler Animal Hospital to be assessed.
“This is another great example of ‘see something, say something’ in action,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “We do not tolerate animal abuse in Flagler County. This type of behavior could be an early warning sign that something else is going on with this young man and often is how human abuse starts. I hope this is a wakeup call that his criminal actions will not be allowed and that he gets the help he needs. I would also like to say thank you to the young man who spoke up and saved this dog from further abuse.”
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Keep Flagler Beautiful says
What a macho man. Words cannot describe how much I detest anyone who beats on an animal for any reason, no matter what size they are or what their “crime” was, in this case relieving himself — probably because the loser didn’t let him outside, hoping to stage a video. I hope no mercy is shown for this guy, because he showed no mercy for an innocent little dog who trusted him. At age 16, this guy is capable of adult thinking, although even a 5-year-old knows that beating an animal is wrong. We need a national database for animal abusers to make sure offenders like this are never allowed to another animal.
Dianne says
Agreed
Mary Oexmann says
God Bless the person or persons
who came to that sweet, helpless
innocent’s rescue. And I pray that
the perpetrator be prosecuted and
punished to the max of the law.
These cruel acts must be published
and stopped.
Veteran says
I’d shit in his room too if he beat me!
wow says
Animal cruelty is a major precursor of other violent crime, domestic abuse, and sexual abuse. Please get this kid some help now before he is lost forever.
steve says
I agree it only escalates. Unfortunately he is probably too far gone to salvage.
hawkeye says
Wow …you hit the nail right on the head,I grew up with a kid like that, killed cats, tortured other animals,when he was about the same age as this kid , he got caught raping a girl by the girls brother ,who smashed his head with a shovel.He went to the hospital ,the brother got in no trouble at all . Too bad we cant go back to 1969. This dog abuser needs help, there may be a chance he can turn around or else he has a bad future.
Concerned says
I just don’t understand. This poor animal is unable to defend itself and is much smaller than the individual that is beating it. I can’t even imagine what is going on in the mind of a person who does this. What is going on in the mind of the people who are laughing about it? How do individuals then post it on social media? What is wrong with these people? Absolute lack of empathy! I hope this individual is not allowed to keep the dogs or own dogs in the future. Brutal! Are there any adults in the house that see this happening?
Humankind is very disappointing (understatement) these days. No wonder there is a feeling of hopelessness when humans treat each other and defenseless animals like this.
Flagler Local says
Had his parents spanked his
rear with a “small thin strap” growing up maybe this dog wouldn’t be taking the beating now…
Maxi says
Maybe that’s where he learned how to discipline. Violence leads to violence.
Agkistrodon says
This person should NEVER be allowed to have an ani.al again. Young man is very lucky he is not my child, as I would volunteer him for the ranch. This is how biting dogs are MADE.
Duncan says
Kudos to the young man and his Aunt for reporting the clip; it shows that some of us still have empathy and know the meaning of compassion.
ASF says
And Mom just sat by and let this happen?
Dawn Smith says
Hope they can not have anymore pets.
Name (required) says
Dear kid,
I adopted my puppy at 4 months (Luna), she was separated from her mom and 5 siblings. She shivered in my jacket the whole ride home. I soothed her and kept her near my heart. She calmed, she knew she was safe. Shes been my best friend since. I could never imagine treating her in that way. Ever. Point is. There was a lot she had to get used to when she got to her new home. 100% on me, my role in life .. to protect her, train her, love her… and her love in return is the endless reward. If you’re peaceful toward living things, It will bring you joy. Fact. It’s real.
Edith Campins says
Ban him and his fmily from ever owning animals again.
HappyHappyJoyJoy says
I have ZERO tolerance for people like this. I don’t care your age. If you have that “in” you, then you are already too far gone. By nature, I’m an animal lover, grew up on 10 acres of land full of cats, dogs, and horses. All cared for and well loved. They all actually lived like kings and queens. LOL. Any sort of animal abuse sickens me and I automatically think an eye for an eye. I truly hate people that would harm an animal. All I know is, if anyone EVER touched my fur babies and harmed them, that person better run, and run fast.
Concerned Citizen says
I am glad he was caught. and will be facing proper felony charges. He was old enough to know what he was doing was wrong. I cringe any time someone says the perp needs help.
We live in a society where no one wants to take responsability for their actions. As soon as someone gets caught the “mental health card” is thrown down. I call BS on that. Having a back ground in Public safety and working with the public for over 30 years I will tell you that not everyone who does wrong suffers from some undiagnosed “mental disorder” Some are just plain mean assholes and enjoy inflicting pain on others and animals.
Hopefully he will be found guilty sentenced accordingly and baneed from having any other animals. Maybe just maybe he can be kept from hurting others further.
CB from PC says
Growing up back in the coal burning days, kids like this had the shit knocked out of them, because prior to this they were usually caught in an episode of picking on someone’s little brother.
No cops involved, no school counseling or expulsion for the guy beating up the perp.
And usually the perps parents gave him a what for.
And life was good.
Is it just me, or does anyone else see a road to dysfunction here?
Another Concerned Citizen says
Do you not see the irony in what you’re saying? It’s okay to beat a child but not an animal? Violence begets violence.
Barbara says
So glad someone saw the video and reported it, my heart hurts for the little dog and his housemate who most likely was treated the same, are that persons parents blind, live in the same home and didn’t know what he was doing to the little dog, doubt it was the first time, oh excuse me, they didn’t care what was going on, hope he and his family are prevented from every have animals again and hope the law punishes him to whatever extent it can. Wish I could adopt the little guy, give him the safe, happy, loving home he and all animals deserve.
Daniel says
B.S. most of my generation grew up getting there butts beat by there parents when they messed up. It is called discipline furher the majority did not become violent animal abusers. But statistically serial killers have a past that includes animal abuse. This little piece of crap did not discipline the animal he beat it repatedly.
CB from PC says
Thanks for giving a reality check to the “excuse makers”. There is no rational justification for this punk’s behavior.
Sadly, this 16 year olds problem was ignored.
Palmcoaster says
Put it on this kid record “to never own and animal again” him or the household that ignored the abuse. My deep appreciation to the young man and his aunt that reported the abuse and to sheriff Staly for intervening and take the two dogs away from the hell house. Hope both dogs get the good loving homes they deserve in spite of the abuse that may affect their behavior. I have adopted abused senior dogs and some have physical and mental scars forever but still react well with forgiveness to good humans in a loving home.
Gina Weiss says
PINNING THE ANIMAL DOWN AT THE NECK says it all and then laughter heard in the background by the little creep! So what else comes next? Sounds to me like tell tale signs of a person who needs to be mentally evaluated and fast. BTW Sheriff Staly definitely has my vote.
O Olon says
Thank you to the boy and his mother who contacted authorities and the police who took appropriate action . The saying see something say something is great and it probably saved these two poor dogs lives. I hope authorities take the dogs and find them new homes and this sicko kid is not only banned from having animals , gets psychiatric help and is monitored constantly (all his life)to make sure he isn’t abusing animals or kids.