BROOKSVILLE, Fla. (CBS12) — A Brooksville man has been accused of repeatedly punching, kicking, and striking his two Cane Corsi with both a metal pole and metal pan on multiple occasions.
“Inflicting pain and suffering on innocent creatures is a clear indication of a deep disregard for life itself,” said Sheriff Al Nienhuis.
The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) stated that on Tuesday, deputies had responded to a report of animal cruelty in eastern Brooksville.
A witness reportedly saw the abuse and gave deputies a 45-minute-long video of the abuse.
According to HCSO, the video showed Joseph Lamontagne, 57, punching, kicking, and using metal objects, such as a pole and a pan, to strike the animals. Deputies reported that throughout the abuse, the dogs whimpered in pain and attempted to escape, but Lamontagne would drag them back and continue the abuse. One of the dogs, a black male named Alger, was tethered and unable to flee from the violence.
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Further investigation revealed that Lamontagne had adopted Alger and started fostering a brindle female named Hailie just two weeks prior to the incident. The sheriff noted Lamontagne only had the dogs in his care for a short time.
HCSO stated that Lamontagne signed documents surrendering Alger, and during the transfer, officers noted that the male dog was limping severely. A veterinarian will evaluate both dogs for injuries.
With the video evidence in hand, Lamontagne was arrested at the scene. He allegedly admitted to hitting the dogs with a leash but denied the more severe actions shown in the footage.
Lamontagne has been accused of two counts of felony animal cruelty.
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