Police: Man threw puppy against wall

Juan Florez accused of abusing German Shepherd puppy

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – A man threw his 4-month-old German Shepherd against a wall after it bit him, police say.

Police arrested 26-year-old Juan Florez on Monday and charged him with animal cruelty and abuse.

Officers were called to Florez's apartment on Thursday after neighbors said they heard his dog, Toby, yelping.

"The guy's killing the dog. He's throwing the dog against the wall and I keep hearing the dog," a 911 caller told police. "I heard the dog crying and screaming."

When officers arrived, they found the dog hiding in the closet. They also found blood all over the floor and walls, and brought Toby to the Coral Springs Animal Hospital.

"When he came in, he had blood coming from his nostrils, blood in his mouth, very, very swollen face and around his eyes," said Dr. Tatiana De Oliveira.

Florez told police he thought he hit the dog too hard, according to an arrest affidavit.

"To do that is just evil," said Tova Shelby with the Coral Springs Animal Hospital.

The dog didn't suffer any long-term injuries.


About the Authors:

Terrell Forney joined Local 10 News in October 2005 as a general assignment reporter. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, but a desire to escape the harsh winters of the north brought him to South Florida.