- Florida, USA -
~ Update: December 21, 2023
29-years-old NICHOLAS ANTHONY ZOTTO (pictured), former deputy with the Hardee County Sheriff's Office, former officer with the Bradenton Police Department, and owner of Pawsome Sitters, LLC in Manatee County, is facing additional animal cruelty charges after in November 2023, he was criminally charged in an animal abuse investigation and fired from his job as a deputy.
The Manatee County Sheriff's Office said ZOTTO faces another animal cruelty charge after taking in other dogs at the business, Pawsome Sitters, that he was supposed to have shut down.
Mere weeks after receiving notice to appear in court for his original animal cruelty charge and an order from Manatee County Code Enforcement to shut down Pawsome Sitters, ZOTTO agreed to board two dogs between November 18-29 in exchange for payment.
However, when the guardian went to the facility to pick up their dogs, they saw that one of them looked sick and was “clearly” experiencing discomfort. The Voiceless Victim was examined by a veterinarian who reported that the dog had open sores and was severely dehydrated.
A press release, by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and obtained by Voice For Us, stated that the dog is a male Chihuahua, Mini Aussie Shepherd mix. His name “ is withheld at the owner’s request.”
According to investigators, ZOTTO kept the dog in a confined space and made him sit in his filth for an “extended period.”
Investigators believed they gathered enough evidence to arrest ZOTTO for aggravated animal cruelty and several attempts were made to take him into custody. Authorities believed he had fled Florida and suspected he was in New York. An arrest warrant was issued for ZOTTO on Monday, December 18, 2023.
According to the press release, ZOTTO turned himself in on the afternoon of Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at the Sarasota County Jail. He was unbelievably released after posting $1,500 bail.
Court records show a pre-trial is scheduled to take place on January 30, 2024.
Update on Voice For Us Facebook page
ZOTTO’s mugshot and furbaby’s pictures provided to Voice For Us by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.
~ Original story:
The Hardee County Sheriff's Office announced the “immediate termination” of 29-years-old deputy NICHOLAS ANTHONY ZOTTO (pictured).
ZOTTO, who has served with the Hardee County Sheriff's Office since April 2022, is the owner of Pawsome Sitters, LLC in Manatee County and former officer with the Bradenton Police Department.
According to a press release by Ed Brodsky, State Attorney for the 12th Circuit, obtained by Voice For Us, ZOTTO was charged with animal cruelty, a first-degree misdemeanor, “stemming from video evidence depicting animal cruelty to a dog named Grizzly.”
The video was posted on social media, leading concerned citizens to alert the authorities. The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, Manatee County Animal Services, and the State Attorney’s Office conducted a joint investigation that ultimately led to ZOTTO being charged.
The Hardee County Sheriff's Office said a series of videos that came to their attention showed “concerning behavior from Deputy Zotto while off duty, more specifically the treatment of animals in his care as owner of Pawsome Sitters.”
According to the State’s Attorney’s Office, the Manatee County Animal Services has also cited ZOTTO with civil violations of Manatee County Ordinances concerning his operation of the business Pawsome Sitters.
10 Tampa Bay interviewed Ms. Joyce Spencer, who recounted her experience at Pawsome Sitters and said that ZOTTO was violent with her dogs too.
Ms. Spencer said she took her dogs to the facility once a week so that they could spend the day, run around, and play with the other dogs. According to Ms. Spencer, one day one of the employees told her that ZOTTO had kicked one of her dogs. The dog reacted by going after ZOTTO and biting him for which he needed stitches.
Ms. Spencer went on to say that after she learned about the abuse of Grizzly, she decided to cut ties with Pawsome Sitters.
The Hardee County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post: “Deputy Zotto’s actions have fallen short of the ethical and moral standards we demand from all members of our law enforcement team.”
Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.
Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.
ZOTTO’s picture provided to Voice For Us by the Hardee County Sheriff's Office.
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