A Golden Gate Estates man is facing felony animal cruelty charges after investigators determined he had severely beaten his dog. David Grant Harper, 29, appeared in court where Collier County Judge Michael Provost set his bond at $7,500 and ordered him to surrender all animals.
According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, two people contacted them on February 15 reporting they had witnessed Harper beating his dog named Diesel in the bathroom of his home. The witnesses said they could hear banging and the dog yelping for nearly an hour.
When deputies arrived, Harper denied beating Diesel and stated he had only been disciplining the dog. When he showed the deputies Diesel, the dog was visibly shaking and urinated at the sight of Harper.
A search warrant was granted to search Harper’s home and detectives found blood smears in various areas of the bathroom where the dog had been allegedly abused.
Diesel was removed from the home, and an examination of the dog by a veterinarian revealed new and old bruises throughout the dog’s body. The veterinarian determined that Diesel suffered “intentional, non-accidental acts of blunt force trauma consistent with unnecessary and repeated suffering and cruelty.”
During the investigation, detectives also came into possession of a video showing Harper violently beating the dog and punching Diesel in the face along with whipping him with a leash.
“We cannot allow innocent animals to be abused in Collier County. I am thankful that this dog is now in a safe environment and receiving care so that he can heal.”
Sheriff Kevin Rambosk
Diesel is being cared for at a secure location and CCSO will file paperwork to legally seize him. Anyone with additional information about this case, is asked to contact the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.
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Boy what I would do to this idiot face to face .