ANIMAL CRUETY CHARGES AGAINST PET OWNER

A VENICE MAN WAS ARRESTED FRIDAY AFTER AN INVESTIGATION ABOUT A CRUELTY TO ANIMALS COMPLAINT.  SARASOTA COUNTY DEPUTIES WERE CALLED TO THE ALL IN THE CLIP PET GROOMING SALON ON SOUTH TAMIAMI TRAIL ON JULY 22^ND AFTER 63 YEAR OLD FRED HARTER DROPPED OFF HIS SHIH-TZU WHO WAS NOTICEABLY LIMPING.  WHEN HE RETURNED TO PICK UP THE DOG, HARTER ADMITTED HE DID NOT GET IT MEDICAL TREATMENT AFTER RUNNING IT OVER WITH HIS SCOOTER, SAYING HE HATED THE PET WHICH PREVIOUSLY BELONGED TO HIS MOTHER.  THE ARREST REPORT SAYS HARTER PUNCHED THE DOG SEVERAL TIMES ON THE HEAD AND NECK WHEN HE TRIED TO PUT IT ON HIS SCOOTER.  WORKERS CLAIM HE THREW THE DOG’S LEASH AT THEM AND TOLD THEM THEY COULD HAVE THE DOG AS HE DROVE AWAY ON HIS SCOOTER.  THE DOG IS RECOVERING AFTER GETTING TREATMENT FOR AN INJURED LEG.  HARTER WAS ARRESTED FRIDAY AND CHARGED WITH ANIMAL CRUELTY.  HE POSTED A ONE THOUSAND DOLLAR BOND AND WAS RELEASED FROM THE SARASOTA COUNTY JAIL ON SATURDAY.