Dalton Chad Sousa, Fort Myers, Florida man throws Chihuahua over 3rd floor balcony, leaves dog with fractures after getting into fight with dog owner. Faces animal cruelty charges.
A Florida man is facing animal cruelty charges for allegedly throwing a friend’s pet Chihuahua over a 3rd floor balcony following an argument with the dog’s owner, leaving the pet dog with multiple fractures.
Dalton Chad Sousa, 30, of Fort Myers, left the 3-year-old animal with multiple fractures, including a broken leg and a broken mandible, after throwing her from the balcony on Sunday, according to a Facebook post by the Lee County Sheriff‘s Office.
‘It is always disappointing to learn of an innocent animal abused by an owner they trust,’ Sheriff Carmine Marceno said in a statement.
Dog owner left injured Chihuahua at vet hospital after saying he couldn’t afford medical fees
‘I will continue to do my part to stand up for those who cannot protect themselves,’ he said. ‘Violent and abusive behavior towards an animal will not be tolerated in Lee County. This suspect will now pay the price for this disgusting crime.’
Deputies learned of the incident after getting called to the Blue Pearl Animal Hospital on a report of an injured dog and found Raven bruised and battered, Wink News reported.
The dog’s owner claimed ‘a friend’ threw the Chihuahua, ‘Raven’, only to leaver her at the vet’s office after getting into an argument with the staff — saying he couldn’t afford the vet bills. The vet’s office in turn called the sheriff’s office.
Cops contacted the owner on the phone and he reportedly told them the same story and said he only knew the offender as ‘Dalton.’ He said he went to a friend’s home to drink when he and ‘Dalton’ got into a fight. He was leaving when he realized he didn’t have Raven. That’s when the suspect allegedly tossed the dog off the balcony.
The department tracked down Sousa and charged him with aggravated animal cruelty on Monday.
Raven, who was seen in photos sporting a cast on her front paw and a neck brace, is being treated by the vet and is expected to make a full recovery, authorities said.
Sousa is being held at the Lee County Jail on $5,000 bail, records show.
Sousa is next due in court Oct. 14 for his arraignment.
