#Viral video shows Florida man punching dog

A viral video of a Florida man abusing his dog led to a police investigation, which ultimately resulted in the dog’s removal from his custody.

On Sept. 27, Stacey Rybak was playing with her dog when an unfamiliar dog approached them. Separated from them by a fence, the unknown dog attempted to reach the duo, jumping along the other side of the barrier.

According to an interview with Fox 19, Rybak was in the process of seeking out a second leash to wrangle the unaccompanied dog when a car pulled up. A man exited the vehicle and made his way over to the dog, which—as Rybak noted in a Facebook post—seemed reluctant to go with its owner. The man then began beating his dog, which prompted Rybak to pull out her phone.

She only captured the final moments of the incident, as the man leans down repeatedly to strike the cowering dog.

Rybak’s viral Facebook video, and her subsequent call to Boynton Beach police, were instrumental in rescuing the dog from its abusive home.

Several neighbors recognized the owner from Rybak’s video, which assisted investigators in tracking him down. A Facebook post from police Monday noted that the case had been turned over to the department’s animal cruelty investigator, Liz Roehrich.

Roehrich quickly caught up to the owner, seizing custody of the abused dog for a veterinary examination. The department noted that “Adi, short for Addison, a two-year-old female Pit-Lab mix,” was set to remain in police custody for the duration of the investigation.

“I will do my absolute best to pursue justice for this innocent animal,” Roehrich said. “We will always investigate acts of animal abuse and neglect in the city.”

The investigator also conducted a welfare check at the man’s home, to “ensure the safety of his other animals.” He owns two additional dogs, reportedly ages 11 and 13.

Following the investigation, Roehrich found that the man’s other dogs appeared well taken care of. She found no cause to remove them. Adi, however, went into police custody. Roehrich noted that the owner expressed “extreme remorse” when confronted with his actions.

“Adi can now look forward to finding a forever home filled with love and gentle hands,” Roehrich said. Adi remains in the custody of Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control. Hopeful owners can reach out to the department to inquire after adoption options. She is not yet listed among the adoptable pets.

The criminal investigation is ongoing. We reached out to Rybak.

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H/T Fox 19