There is a new effort to push for stricter punishments in animal cruelty cases after a Ponce Inlet man was accused of killing his 9-month-old puppy back in April.
- Call for stricter punishment stems from accusation that a Ponce Inlet man attacked puppy
- RELATED: Volusia man charged with animal cruelty for beating puppy to death
On Tuesday, the New Smyrna Beach City Commission will be asked to approve a resolution calling for state lawmakers to make acts of animal cruelty a second-degree felony.
“This is a very vicious attack on a poor innocent, puppy, a 9-month-old puppy, just defenseless,” said Debbie Darino, a member of the Justice for Ponce Facebook page.
The Ponce Inlet Police Department responded to the home of Travis Archer on April 8, in reference to a dog in distress. When officers arrived, they discovered Archer’s dog, Ponce, bleeding from the mouth and lying near a fence in the backyard.
In body-camera video from Ponce Inlet Police Department, Archer tells officers the dog tore up his house and he had hit the dog to discipline it. Archer even admitted to hurling the dog against a wall, leaving a hole, according to investigators.
Archer was charged with animal cruelty, which is a third-degree felony.
“Right now it’s a third-degree felony in the state of Florida, which is no different than stealing a $300 bicycle, that’s a third-degree felony,” said Ponce Inlet Chief of Police Frank Fabrizio.
Darino was outraged that animal cruelty was only considered a third-degree felony. She started a petition, calling on lawmakers to make acts of animal cruelty a second-degree felony.
“I read the necropsy report on Ponce, and it’s pretty horrific, and that was my final straw, like something needs to get done. We need to change the laws, we’ve got to do something about it,” said Darino.
Archer’s attorney David Damore says his client pled not guilty, he is out on bond and a hearing is set for next month in the case.
"I think the elected officials of Ponce Inlet need to concentrate on the citizens of Ponce Inlet. And in my opinion the increase in punishment doesn't change people's behaviors," Damore told News 13 over the phone.
Darino and Fabrizio disagree. They are meeting with local leaders and are hoping to get changes in Tallahassee.
“If people got 5 years in jail for the third-degree felony, like it says, we’d be ecstatic with that,” said Fabrizio. “But they’re not getting any jail time, so that’s why we believe if we make it a second-degree felony people will at least get jail time if they torture, make an animal suffer and kill an animal.”
Ponce Inlet’s town council has already approved a resolution, calling for state lawmakers to make the changes in animal cruelty laws.
The New Smyrna Beach Commission takes up the issue Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.