A 31-year-old Lake Park man faces a felony charge of aggravated animal cruelty after Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office investigators said he repeatedly abused a small dog, leaving it with multiple broken ribs.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Tyler Ronald Hill was arrested on a charge of aggravated animal cruelty causing excessive pain or death. Investigators began looking into the case after receiving complaints about a dog named Ozzy at an apartment on Park Avenue in Lake Park.
Witnesses told deputies they saw Hill physically abuse the dog on multiple occasions and heard the animal yelping and screaming. One witness who lived with Hill said the abuse was frequent and included punching, kicking and throwing the dog. That witness said Ozzy appeared weak and lethargic after one incident and was later taken for emergency veterinary care.
Veterinary records showed two acute rib fractures and other signs of pain, the affidavit said. An independent review by Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control concluded the injuries were consistent with blunt-force trauma and required medical treatment.
Investigators said the witness statements, veterinary records and expert review gave them probable cause to file the charge.
