A Florida teacher is facing an animal cruelty charge after his puppy was brutally beaten to death. According to multiple sources, Daniel Lamont Gray, Jr., a teacher with the Broward County School District, was arrested after his eight-month-old puppy was found dead behind an apartment building at The Avant in Pembroke Pines.
A witness has told the authorities that Gray could be heard yelling at the puppy, named Jack, on the afternoon of August 10. The witness said that Gray screamed, “you see how strong I am?” while pummeling the puppy. The witness claims to have seen Gray punching, kicking, and throwing the puppy to the ground.
As reported by the Daily Star, Vet Dr Elizabeth Rosainz at LeadER Animal Hospital describes the injuries on Jack’s body as the worst she has ever seen. She describes the puppy’s injuries:
“There was so much blood from the oral cavity and the nasal cavity. He had a puncture wound on the top of the head, and when we took x-rays we found rib fractures and a punctured lung.”
Gray changed his story about what happened to the puppy multiple times. At one point he said that the pup choked on a watch. He then changed his story and said that Jack was hit by a car and died in his apartment. The veterinarian who examined the puppy’s body has stated that the extensive injuries are not consistent with Gray’s claims.
Gray was arrested and jailed, but he is already out. The school district has not fired him, but he is not teaching in a classroom during the investigation. John Sullivan, Chief Communications and Legislative Affairs Officer said, “The employee will be reassigned to a non-school site pending the District’s full review of the matter and determination of any employment action(s),”
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