PUNTA GORDA, Fla. – A Punta Gorda man is being held without bond after investigators obtained videos that authorities say show him repeatedly abusing a 6-week-old puppy until the animal died.
Neil R. Puterbaugh, 53, was arrested Sept. 15 on a felony aggravated animal cruelty charge and a probation violation, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation began Sept. 13 when a local news outlet provided authorities with a crime tip involving a disturbing video.
Investigators said the recording showed Puterbaugh repeatedly and forcefully striking his puppy. The Sheriff’s Office said the abuse continued beyond what was shown in the initial portion of the video and ultimately resulted in the puppy’s death.
Authorities said Puterbaugh then disposed of the animal. The Sheriff’s Office did not say where or how the puppy’s remains were disposed of or whether they were recovered.
Over the next two days, detectives obtained the video and gathered evidence they said established probable cause for Puterbaugh’s arrest.
Members of the Sheriff’s Office Strategic Targeted Area Response, or STAR, Unit found Puterbaugh at his residence at about 8 p.m. Sept. 15.
After being taken into custody, Puterbaugh was brought to the agency’s District 4 office for an interview. Investigators said he admitted striking the puppy and acknowledged that he had gone too far.
The investigation did not end with the initial recording.
Detectives said they obtained several additional videos from Puterbaugh’s residence that depicted other acts of abuse against the same puppy. The Sheriff’s Office did not provide details about what those recordings showed.
Puterbaugh was booked into the Charlotte County Jail, where authorities said he was being held without bond.
Sheriff Bill Prummell called the case deeply disturbing and thanked the person who initially reported the video and the news organization that forwarded it to law enforcement.