Heartbreaking Cruelty, Man Decapitates His Newly Adopted Dog

Published: May 23, 2024 at 07:41 PM Author: PENNY EIMS

Pinellas County, FL – A Florida man was arrested and is facing charges for an unthinkable act of cruelty that left his newly adopted dog, Dexter, dead. Just one day after 66-year-old Domingo R. Rodriguez adopted Dexter from the Pinellas County Animal Services, the dog was decapitated, wrapped in a plastic bag and thrown into the mangroves at Fort De Soto Park.

Dexter

Dexter’s head had been cut off, but the microchip he received at the shelter was still in place and it led the authorities to his owner, who adopted the dog on May 10. Rodriguez initially tried to claim that Dexter had run away, but after further questioning, he admitted that he had travelled to Fort De Soto Park on May 11. Surveillance video captured Rodriguez at the park on May 11 with a large cooler in the bed of his gray truck.

The authorities say that Rodriguez had several “inconsistencies” in his story and ultimately, they were convinced that he was responsible for Dexter’s grim demise, charging him with animal cruelty and illegally disposing of a dead animal.

Volunteers who interacted with Dexter say that he was a sweet boy who craved love and liked to sit in your lap. But this young dog did not get to experience the love he so desperately craved. Instead, he found himself in the care of a man who cut his life short and mutilated his body.

Please add your name to the petition to help Animal Victory fight for justice for Dexter. Domingo Rodriguez must be held accountable for his sadistic, despicable actions!

Watch Paul Mueller’s video about this horrifying incident:

Target: Pinellas County Prosecuting Attorney and Pinellas County Judge

We the undersigned demand that Domingo R. Rodriguez face the maximum sentence for the charges stemming from the cruel, sadistic killing of four-year-old Dexter, his newly adopted dog. This petition acts as our collective endorsement for Rodriguez to face true consequences for his actions.  This man is clearly a danger to society, and he must not walk away from this brutal incident without serious consequences. 

Individuals are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law. Animal Victory relies upon the authorities and the court system to determine guilt or innocence.

Animal-Protection-Laws-of-Florida-2020-Animal-Legal-Defense-Fund (4)

News:

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Update 6/18/2024: There was a rally for Dexter at the court house. The defendant’s motion to squash the search warrant was squashed and the judge amended the bond to include no custody or ownership of animals until trial. No word as to a follow-up court date. 

Update 6/9/2024: Animal Victory sent petition to the DA and Judge.

Update 6/5/2024: The next court date is June 17, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. EST before Judicial Officer Keith Meyer. Florida 6th Circuit Court, 14250 49TH STREET NORTH. CLEARWATER, FL 33762. This next hearing will be to rule on the defendant’s motion to squash the search warrant by Pinellas County Law Enforcement.

Correspondence filed by the attorney’s defendant is attached below.

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Heartbreaking Cruelty, Man Decapitates His Newly Adopted Dog

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Latest Signatures
18,262 Krista C. 0 Jul 15, 2024
18,261 Lisa L. I’m wondering what kind of vetting the shelter did before adopting. Background check? Home check? How did this dog wind up in the hands of such an evil man? Please prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law 0 Jul 15, 2024
18,260 Misty J. 0 Jul 15, 2024
18,259 Mathew J. This individual need to be locked up as he has now become an extremely violent individual, he is now a problem or will become a problem to society. Would like to know the back ground on this individual 0 Jul 15, 2024
18,258 Edwardson M. 0 Jul 15, 2024
18,257 Andrea B. 0 Jul 15, 2024
18,256 Mary E. 0 Jul 15, 2024
18,255 Betty G. 0 Jul 15, 2024
18,254 James T. 0 Jul 15, 2024
18,253 Amanda T. 0 Jul 15, 2024
18,252Anonymous He Must face Punishment. Death.... 0 Jul 15, 2024
18,251 Nicole M. 0 Jul 15, 2024
18,250Anonymous 0 Jul 15, 2024
18,249 Dora P. Punishment to the max. 0 Jul 15, 2024
18,248 Karen H. Prosecute!!!!! He lied about killing the dog and got caught!!!! 0 Jul 15, 2024
18,247 Charlotte D. So so sad. I hope Dexter gets justice 0 Jul 14, 2024
18,246Anonymous 0 Jul 14, 2024
18,245 Kelly T. 0 Jul 14, 2024
18,244 C B. 0 Jul 14, 2024
18,243 C B. 0 Jul 14, 2024
18,242 C B. 0 Jul 14, 2024
18,241 C B. 0 Jul 14, 2024
18,240 Rickie H. 0 Jul 14, 2024
18,239Anonymous 0 Jul 14, 2024
18,238Anonymous Charge him with first degree murder, that is exactly what this is. 0 Jul 14, 2024
18,237 Tracy C. This terrible act of cruelty is a gateway. Next it is your child. 0 Jul 14, 2024
18,236 Donna G. I said let us give him his Punishment? It'll be Slow and Painful. Exactly what Poor Dexter went thru. It breaks my Heart to even think about what he went thru. I can't think of Evil Thoughts of what Id Love to do to him? RIP SWEET DEXTER! You've got a lot of People that Love You. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ 0 Jul 14, 2024
18,235Anonymous 0 Jul 14, 2024
18,234Anonymous This behavior needs to stop and stern measures should be taken. 0 Jul 14, 2024
18,233 Miguel A. Justice for Dexter!!!! 0 Jul 14, 2024
18,232 Lourdes E R. 0 Jul 14, 2024
18,231 Kristine G. 0 Jul 14, 2024
18,230 Melissa C. The bastard needs to suffer the same fate. Someone chop his head off. Slowly so he feels if all 0 Jul 14, 2024
18,229 Debbie J. Please punish to the harshest degree. Anyone who does this to an animal is capable of doing much worse. Our animal cruelty laws must be changed. 0 Jul 14, 2024
18,228 John P. 0 Jul 14, 2024
18,227 Rachel M. Send this man to jail forever. 0 Jul 14, 2024
18,226 Scott H. 0 Jul 13, 2024
18,225 G L. 0 Jul 13, 2024
18,224Anonymous 0 Jul 13, 2024
18,223Anonymous Prosecute to the fullest extent! This man poses a danger to our community. If he can do this to a defenseless animal, what will he do next? His actions are incomprehensible. 0 Jul 13, 2024
18,222 Cheryl C. 0 Jul 13, 2024
18,221 Sherri Y. He needs to be punished to the full extent of the law. If there isn’t punishment to equal the pleasure of the crime, then one needs to be established! He cannot get away with this! 0 Jul 13, 2024
18,220 Rachel L. Justice for Dexter! 0 Jul 13, 2024
18,219 Lynne P. Chop his head off! 0 Jul 13, 2024
18,218 Mary K. 0 Jul 13, 2024
18,217 Susan J W. 0 Jul 13, 2024
18,216 Bri H. This is what I've got to stop being so desperate and adopting out animals period you must do in-home visits. You must do follow-ups. How he killed the dog is probably worse than what most people recognize. He was probably raping the dog. 0 Jul 12, 2024
18,215 Jennifer T. 0 Jul 12, 2024
18,214Anonymous Prosecute to the full extent of the law. He is a danger to the entire community. 0 Jul 12, 2024
18,213 Maria H. 0 Jul 12, 2024