Man accused of stabbing dog

Jose Cespedes charged with animal cruelty, carrying concealed weapon

HIALEAH, Fla. – Police in Hialeah on Thursday arrested a man accused of stabbing a dog after it began barking at him.

Police charged Jose Cespedes with animal cruelty with intent to injure/kill and carrying a concealed weapon.

On Sept. 13, Cespedes, 38, was walking along the sidewalk in the 4200 block of East 8th Lane when the dog, a 2-year-old boxer named Zoe, began barking at him, according to an arrest affidavit. He pulled a knife from his waistband and stabbed the dog in the shoulder.

The dog's owner, Alexis Leiva, saw the incident happen on surveillance video and ran outside to confront Cespedes, who ran away, police said.

"That guy is crazy," said Leiva. "It's not right to do that to that dog. He tried to kill my little dog. It's not right."

Zoe needed surgery and stitches. Leiva said he was trying to protect the house.

"He's a little bit more aggressive because it's normal," said Leiva.

Cespedes denied stabbing the dog, police said. A judge ordered he be held on $26,000 bond.