A Punta Gorda man is in custody after the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office acted on a tip about a video showing him abusing his puppy. Neil R. Puterbaugh, 53, was arrested September 16, 2026. Deputies say the video showed him repeatedly hitting his 6-week-old puppy and then disposing of it. The tip came in three days earlier.
During a search of his home, investigators found additional videos of animal abuse, according to the sheriff’s office. Puterbaugh now faces felony charges of aggravated animal cruelty and violation of probation, meaning he was already under court supervision when this case came to light.
For a region like ours, where dogs are part of daily life from the Riverwalk in Bradenton to the dog beaches at Brohard Park in Venice, cases like this stir strong feelings. They also show the power of a single phone call. If you suspect animal cruelty anywhere on the Suncoast, report it to your local sheriff’s office or animal services right away.
What do you think should happen in cases like this? Sound off in the comments.
