BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. -- A Pembroke Pines man is facing an aggravated animal cruelty charge after police say he severely beat a 12-week-old puppy that suffered "intentional acts of cruelty and torture."
Daniel Miguel Smith, 21, was arrested Wednesday in the beating of Dexter, a 12-week-old male gray and white pitbull, Pembroke Pines police said.
According to an arrest report, Smith brought Dexter to a Cooper City animal hospital on July 19, where doctors discovered the puppy was critically injured with fractures to its face, trauma to the back of its head and bleeding.
Smith was booked into jail where he remained held on $25,000 bond, records showed. Attorney information wasn't available.
When Smith appeared before a judge, he said the puppy slipped in the shower. But a doctor at the hospital determined that the injuries were a result of "intentional and repeated blunt trauma," the report said.
The puppy remains under the care of the hospital but was expected to make a full recovery.