Florida: Michigan man, David Gross, allegedly severely beat, choked his small dog

FLORIDA -- A Michigan man is in the Monroe County jail after being accused of severely abusing his dog.

David Gross, 51, faces felony animal cruelty charges for allegedly beating and choking his Chihuahua mix dog.

Witnesses at the City Marina in Marathon told Sheriff’s Office deputies that Gross picked up the dog by its leash, hanged the animal in the air and bounced him up and down. 

Gross also beat the dog and threatened to throw him in the water and also threatening to kill him [if anyone tried to intervene], Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Deputy Becky Herrin said.

The dog was reportedly crying and choking as Gross allegedly abused him.

Deputies arrested Gross at 6:10 p.m. Tuesday.

Responding Animal Control officers found the dog, named Batman, very thin and malnourished, and his right front leg appears to have been broken at one time and not set properly. Animal Control took the dog.

Deputies ran a background check on Gross and found out he is a convicted felon in Michigan, and he failed to register with local law enforcement when he moved to Monroe County.

As of Wednesday, Gross was in the Key West jail on no bond. He faces two counts of animal cruelty and one count of failing to register as a convicted felon.

(FL Keys News - June 17, 2015)