MIAMI – No charges were filed after a disturbing video surfaced Tuesday showing a man who residents said abused his dog after it appeared to defecate on a high-rise balcony in downtown Miami.
Residents told Local 10 News it is not the first time the owner has been involved in a dog abuse incident.
The footage, captured by a nearby resident, prompted a response from both Miami police and Miami-Dade Animal Services.
The video posted by Only in Dade shows a man visibly upset after his dog appeared to defecate on the balcony of his apartment near Miami Plaza, just off northeast Miami Place.
In the footage, the man appears to be throwing the feces off the balcony before pushing the dog’s head into the concrete repeatedly.
At one point, he appears to be holding a sharp object, adding to the intimidation.
Residents of the building shared their shock and concern with Local 10′s Andrew Perez.
“It was disturbing, but unfortunately, I was not surprised,” said a woman who asked to remain unidentified. ”Living in this area, all the dog owners know of each other. I’ve seen this owner behave poorly with his dog before.”
“It was heartbreaking to see,” she added. “I’ve even witnessed his son kick the dog, which makes me think this might be a common occurrence at home. It’s just overall terrible dog ownership.”
During the investigation, Miami-Dade Animal Services said they were met by the dog’s owner, who allowed them inside his apartment.
While inside the man’s apartment, authorities said they found two dogs with adequate housing, food and water.
The owner told authorities he was following training procedures provided by the dog’s trainer when the incident was reported.
M-DAS said the man was cautioned about leaving dogs unattended on the balcony and advised that the “correction method he used was not recommended.”
The owner was cited for not having current vaccinations or license tags for both dogs and was instructed to bring the dogs to M-DAS for a full examination, according to investigators.
The owner complied and the shelter veterinarian found no injuries on either dog, noting both were in good health, authorities said.
Investigators also confirmed the dogs’ behavior did not indicate a negative relationship with the owner. The owner was advised that “both he and the dogs could benefit from training methods based on positive reinforcement,” authorities said.
The owner released a statement in Spanish on his Instagram page, which has been translated below.
Read M-DAS’ full statement following their investigation below.
“On August 27, 2024, Miami-Dade County Animal Services opened an investigation regarding the incident on a Miami balcony that was videotaped. An Animal Services Investigator was dispatched to the apartment along with Police. They were greeted by the dog owner and allowed to enter the residence. Upon entering there were two dogs living in the apartment with adequate housing, food, and water. The owner explained that he was following training procedures that were provided to him by the dog’s trainer. The owner was cautioned about leaving dogs on the balcony unattended and was advised that the correction method used on the dogs was not recommended. Owner was cited for not having current vaccinations or license tags for both dogs. The owner was advised to bring both dogs to Animal Services for a complete physical examination in which he complied. Upon the physical examination performed by the Shelter Veterinarian, there were no injuries noted on either dog and both appeared in good physical health. It was also observed that the dogs’ behaviors do not indicate a negative rapport between dog and owner. It was explained, in detail, to the owner that he and the dogs would benefit from seeking other training methods that are based upon positive reinforcement.”