Deputies: Man breaks dog's leg by swinging animal on leash

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A Rockledge bonded out of jail Friday after he was arrested in Orange County on animal abuse charges, officials said.

Joseph Tyler Pendergrass, 18, was wanted for cruelty to animals.

He’s accused of abusing a dog at a Barkingham Palace where he used to volunteer, Brevard County deputies said.

The investigation into Pendergrass began Monday when employees at the boarding facility suspected he may have hurt an animal, deputies said.

A shih tuz dog, Lily, was taken to a local veterinarian clinic where it was determined the dog had a broken leg, deputies said.

Employees began an internal investigation and reviewed surveillance video that showed Pendergrass swinging the dog around on its leash and slamming the animal to the ground, deputies said.

“Probably one of the most despicable things I’ve seen unfortunately. We’ve seen quite a few animal cruelty cases, but this one was just senseless and absolutely unprovoked,” said Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey.

The owner said Pendergrass was hired after he passed a background check in November.

Pendergrass was arrested Thursday after he got off a train in Orlando, deputies said.

"You hurt an animal in Brevard County, you hurt a child, you hurt a senior, you hurt anybody, you're going to jail. We're not going to play about it. This is just senseless and shouldn't have happened," Ivey said.

The dog is expected to make a full recovery, deputies said.

"The business where this occurred did everything right, and I think it speaks volumes for them that they knew this could hurt their business. But they still did everything right," Ivey said.

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