Florida Man Accused of Abusing Service Dog on Consecutive Days Before Surveillance Footage Led to Arrest

A black Labrador wearing a red service-dog vest was lifted off the ground, turned upside down and slammed onto pavement in surveillance footage described by Boynton Beach Police after two witnesses reported seeing the dog abused on consecutive days.

The first call came Sept. 9 from the 2300 block of South Federal Highway in Boynton Beach, Florida. A witness told police a man had lifted the roughly 50-pound dog, later identified as Rex, above his head and slammed him to the ground near a bus stop outside a Taco Bell. Officers did not find the man or Rex when they arrived.

The next morning, another caller reported seeing what police described as a nearly identical incident just blocks away. She told officers a man choked Rex with his leash, lifted and swung him through the air and struck him with a water bottle while the dog shook and cowered.

An animal control officer canvassed the area and recovered surveillance footage from both incidents. Police identified the man as 52-year-old Juan Latrez Poole, and a witness later picked him out of a photo lineup. Poole was arrested Sept. 14 on a felony animal cruelty charge.

Caught Twice

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Police said the first recording showed the man lift Rex completely off the ground and invert him in midair before slamming him onto the pavement.

The second recording showed the man yanking the leash, hitting Rex with a bottle and hoisting him several feet into the air by the neck before dropping him, according to the department.

Police subsequently showed a photo lineup to a witness, who identified Poole.

His Response

After the arrest, Cox Media reported that released body-camera footage showed Poole disputing the accusation while handcuffed in the back of a police vehicle.

“I’ve never hit my dog, and that is completely untrue,” Poole said, according to the report. He also asked for video evidence after an officer told him two witnesses had reported seeing him harm Rex.

Poole faces one felony animal cruelty charge. The charge is an allegation, and he has not been convicted.

A New Home

Rex was transported to Palm Beach County Animal Care & Control after Poole’s arrest.

Boynton Beach Police said Rex is currently looking for his “forever home.”