Target: William Scheiner, State Attorney of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, Florida
Goal: Prosecute the man who allegedly beat a chihuahua named Bear — leaving him with a missing tooth, swollen eyes, and three separate points of injury — to the fullest extent of Florida’s animal cruelty laws.
A deeply disturbing case has come to light after a Florida man was arrested for allegedly beating a chihuahua named Bear because the small dog had urinated on the bed. According to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, the accused left Bear with injuries including a missing tooth, swollen eyes, and three distinct points of injury severe enough to be identified by a veterinarian. The accused then reportedly left Bear on the back porch without seeking veterinary care. When deputies questioned him about how Bear had been hurt, he claimed he had tripped while holding the dog and fallen on top of him — a story a veterinarian determined was entirely inconsistent with the nature and distribution of the animal’s injuries.
The accused, 41-year-old Kyle Nesbitt, has been charged with animal cruelty and transported to the Brevard County Jail. Sheriff Wayne Ivey publicly condemned the alleged conduct in a video posted to the sheriff’s office’s Facebook page, stating bluntly: “Are you going to beat up a third-grader or a parakeet or something? Is that your next level for you? Well, your next level is you’re going to jail.” The dog, Bear, has since made a full recovery — but the nature of the injuries he allegedly sustained, and the apparent attempt to cover them up with a false account, speaks to calculated abuse.
A small dog allegedly beaten for an involuntary bodily function, then abandoned on a back porch with a missing tooth and swollen eyes while his abuser concocted a false story for police, deserves the full protection of Florida’s animal cruelty statutes. The apparent cover-up makes this case particularly worthy of vigorous prosecution. The State Attorney must ensure that Nesbitt faces the maximum available sentence, including a prohibition on future animal ownership.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Attorney Scheiner,
We are writing to urge full prosecution of a man arrested for allegedly beating a chihuahua named Bear, in response to the dog urinating on the bed. According to authorities, Bear suffered a missing tooth, swollen eyes, and three separate points of injury — injuries a veterinarian confirmed were inconsistent with the accused’s claim that he had tripped and fallen on top of the dog. The accused reportedly left Bear on the back porch without seeking any veterinary care, compounding the alleged cruelty with deliberate neglect.
We are deeply troubled that the accused allegedly attempted to deceive investigators with a false account of how Bear was injured. This, combined with the nature and severity of the alleged injuries, paints a picture of deliberate violence followed by calculated dishonesty. Bear has fortunately recovered — but the alleged conduct of this individual poses a serious ongoing risk to any animal in his care.
We respectfully demand that your office pursue the maximum available penalty under Florida’s animal cruelty statutes and ensure that any sentencing outcome includes a permanent prohibition on animal ownership. Bear survived this alleged attack, but he deserved never to have suffered it. We ask that your office ensure those allegedly responsible for causing such suffering face meaningful and lasting consequences.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Canarian
