Updated: 21 hours ago
- Florida, USA -
⚠️WARNING⚠️The article contains details some of you may find distressing⚠️
~ Update: September 16, 2026
The Boynton Beach Police Department shared a video regarding this case and advised that the dog, named Rex, "is now safe in the care of PBC Animal Care & Control and is looking for his forever home."
~ Original story:
The Boynton Beach Police Department arrested 52-year-old JUAN LATREZ POOLE (pictured) on accusations of abusing a dog during two separate incidents.
According to the arrest report, on September 9, 2026, officers were dispatched to the 2300 block of South Federal Highway to investigate a report regarding a dog who was being abused.
The reporting party stated that she saw a male lifting a black Labrador above his head and slamming the dog onto the ground.
The reporting party had already left the area when officers arrived at the scene, and officers were unable to locate the suspect or the dog.
Boynton Beach Police Officer DePaola contacted the reporting party, who stated that while stopped in traffic, she witnessed a male walking a black Lab wearing a red “service dog” vest. She added that the incident occurred near a bus stop in front of Taco Bell. Officer DePaola then attempted to obtain video footage from the area where the incident occurred.
The following morning, September 10, 2026, police received a second report regarding a black Labrador who was being abused in the 2300 block of South Federal Highway.
The caller, whom I will refer to as BM, stated that she witnessed a male choking a black Lab with a leash, lifting the dog off the ground by the leash, and hitting the dog with a water bottle.
Officers BOLO'd the area but were unable to locate the dog or the suspect.
Officer DePaola then contacted BM by phone, and BM recounted what she had witnessed. BM said that while stopped at a red light at 23rd Avenue and South Federal Highway, she saw the suspect walking a black Lab. At some point, the male stopped and yanked the dog's leash.
BM also stated that the male then grabbed the dog's leash, lifted the dog several feet off the ground, and began swinging the dog through the air from side to side before dropping the dog onto the ground. BM further stated that she saw the male strike the dog with a water bottle or a large flask he was holding. BM also told Officer DePaola that the male then struck the dog in the midsection.
According to the report, BM said that the dog appeared “terrified and shaking and flinching while lying on the ground,” while looking at the male “in fear.”
When Officer DePaola asked BM how high the male had lifted the dog, BM said the leash was lifted to approximately shoulder height, with the dog dangling several feet above the ground for approximately five to 10 seconds, according to the report.
As Officer DePaola canvassed the area for CCTV footage, she located video from Tuscany Apartments and met with the property manager to review footage from the two separate incidents.
Officer DePaola then recalled an incident from August 20, 2026, when she had made contact with a male and a dog wearing a red “service dog” vest. She pulled video footage related to that date and was able to obtain a still-frame photograph. Through the department's investigative resources, the still-frame photograph yielded the suspect's identity.
Officers DePaola and Jordan then met with BM, who was able to positively identify POOLE as the suspect.
Officer DePaola documented the distressing details of both incidents in her report.
Regarding the first incident, Officer DePaola stated that she observed on video POOLE and the dog standing on the sidewalk when he “bent over, grasped the dog by the collar and one leg, aggressively lifted the dog above his head, and forcefully slammed the dog onto the ground.”
Officer DePaola added: “The dog landed in a prone/lying position and remained motionless for several seconds. Based on my observation of the video, the dog appeared nervous and frightened. The dog subsequently stood up, immediately sat in front of the male, and looked up at him. The dog's posture and behavior appeared submissive and fearful.”
The report goes on to state: “The male then bent over again, grasps the dog's collar and violently lifts the dog into the air above his head. The male lifts the dog with such force, proceeding to invert the dog's body completely, causing the dog's body to be positioned upside down, and then forcefully slammed the dog into the ground a second time. The dog landed in a prone/lying position and remains motionless for several seconds. The dog appeared terrified, distressed and anxious and eventually appears submissive and fearful as they walk away.”
With regard to the second incident, Officer DePaola reported that she observed the same male identified in the first video walking the same dog. At one point, the male “aggressively” yanked the dog's leash, “causing the dog to be pulled back towards him.”
“The dog then cowers and begins pacing while attempting to pull away from the male, as the male approaches the dog. The male then bends over, strikes the dog's side/chest area with a bottle. The male then wraps the leash around his hand, drops the bottle and violently lifted the dog completely off the ground by its leash. The male then swung the dog through the air while the dog was suspended several feet above the ground and visibly flailed during the movement. The dog subsequently landed on the ground and immediately cowered in a submissive and fearful position. The man then retrieved the bottle, and he and the dog continue walking,” Officer DePaola wrote.
According to Officer DePaola, the evidence supports the conclusion that POOLE's actions were deliberate and repeated, particularly given that the evidence involved two separate incidents.
POOLE was arrested on September 14, 2026, and charged with felony animal cruelty. He was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail, and his bond was set at $1,000. At the time of writing, online records indicate that POOLE remains in custody.
At this time, the dog’s current condition is unknown, as the arrest report did not provide any information. It is also unknown who currently has custody of the furvictim.
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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is based on the arrest report obtained by Voice For Us.
Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.
In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.
POOLE’s mugshot shared from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office
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