Jorge Guzman-Zubiaur of Homestead has been arrested after his two pet dogs were spotted hanging from a tree. One of the dogs, a Doberman pinsher, died due to the abuse, while the other, a Dalmatian, survived. The incident was spotted by a neighbor, and Guzman-Zubiaur, 49, has been arrested and charged with two counts of animal cruelty.
The dogs were tied to tree branches by ropes that were so tight the animals couldn't sit or move without the risk of strangling themselves.
Neighbor Patty Rhodes and her two children, a 15-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter, witnessed the incident from their balcony and screamed at Guzman-Zubiaur to release the dogs.
"I want to be a vet when I grow up," 12-year-old Beverly Rhodes told WSVN, "and I don't like seeing that happen to a dog. That's no way for a dog to die like that. I was nervous for the dogs because I knew they were going to die if they sat down because they couldn't even sit down without pretty much hanging themselves, which one dog did."
The Doberman eventually hanged itself while the Rhodeses watched and screamed for help. They persuaded Guzman-Zubiaur to release the Dalmatian, which survived.
Rhodes called the police, and Guzman-Zubiaur tried to drive away. However, Rhodes blocked his driveway with her car.
The family that witnessed the incident now plans to adopt the 11-year-old Dalmatian.
Guzman-Zubiaur is being held on $200,000 bond.
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