A tiny five-month-old puggle in Jensen Beach, Florida, is now in protective custody after a heartbreaking incident left him struggling to breathe and suffering from seizures.
According to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded after neighbors reported hearing repeated, painful cries coming from the puppy.
What witnesses described was deeply disturbing.
They said the puppy’s owner, 62-year-old Burt Sparhawk, had allegedly been seen holding the small dog up by his leash and choking him. When officers questioned him, Sparhawk claimed the puppy was having a seizure and then told neighbors to take the dog to a veterinarian.
Thankfully, an officer acted quickly and rushed the puppy to an emergency animal hospital.
There, veterinarians treated the young dog for seizures and later determined that the cause was cocaine exposure.
Sparhawk reportedly claimed the puppy must have eaten something bad in the woods, but another witness also described seeing the dog abused. She said the leash had been wrapped around the puppy’s throat and that the little dog cried out whenever he was released back to the ground.
For a puppy so young, the fear and pain must have been unbearable.
At only five months old, he should have been playing, sleeping safely, and learning that the world is kind. Instead, he was left crying, choking, and fighting through a terrifying medical emergency.
The puppy is now being cared for by the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast while the case continues.
After everything he has endured, this little survivor is finally somewhere safe.
He is no longer alone.
He is no longer in the hands of the person accused of hurting him.
And hopefully, from this moment forward, his life will be filled with the protection, healing, and love he always deserved.
