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Brooksville Man Beat Dogs with Shovel, Chair, Deputies Say

Ronald Demille | Hernando Sheriff | Arrests

Witnesses told deputies he was hitting them because they were fighting, according to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.

BROOKSVILLE – A man has been accused of beating his dogs, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said.

Ronald Demille Jr., 61, of Brooksville, is charged with three counts of animal cruelty.

Mandy Rowe, a Hernando sheriff’s animal enforcement officer, was called to Evergreen Avenue about 4:47 p.m. Dec. 11 after numerous callers told dispatchers that Demille was outside hitting his dogs with chairs and other objects because they were fighting. When she arrived, she saw 10 pit bulls on the property. Demille was the owner.

Rowe returned to the area Dec. 15 to talk with three people who had called about the animal complaint. They told Rowe that they saw Demille hitting the dogs with a shovel between six and eight times. They said he then hit the dogs with a chair before returning to hitting them with a shovel. At least one of the witnesses told Rowe that wasn’t the first time Demille had been seen beating the dogs.

After completing her interviews, deputies said that Rowe found there was probable cause to obtain a warrant charging Demille with three counts of animal cruelty. Demille was arrested Thursday (Dec. 21) at his home.In addition to the charges, the warrant also stipulated Demille was to have no contact with dogs or any other animals.

All 10 dogs on Demille’s property were taken to Hernando County Animal Services.

Hernando Sheriff | Crime | Animal Cruelty | Arrests | Tampabay News

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