Puppy In Cage Hacked To Death With Machete; Dover Man Arrested

DOVER, FL — A 25-year-old man was arrested after the Hillsborough sheriff's office said he broke into a home in Dover and hacked a puppy to death with a machete.

Alexander Hernandez-Delgado Jr. faces charges of aggravated cruelty to animals with a weapon and armed burglary of a dwelling.

On Thursday, Dec. 1, shortly before 7 p.m., deputies responded to a home in the 12000 block of Wheeler Road in Dover for a burglary. The victims told deputies they saw Hernandez-Delgado walking away from their home wearing one of their hats.

When they entered their home, the victims said they found their puppy dead in a crate next to the door, bludgeoned to death with a machete, said the sheriff's office.

The victims also said Hernandez-Delgado had eaten food in the home and thrown various items around before leaving, according to the sheriff's report.

Deputies learned that Hernandez-Delgado entered the home through a door in the living room that was left unlocked. A short time later, deputies found him across the street at a Dollar General store on Valrico Road.

Hernandez-Delgado admitted to being inside the home, and he was arrested without further incident, said the sheriff's office.

“I have zero tolerance for abuse of any kind,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "Unfortunately, this is not the first case of animal cruelty we’ve seen recently. I can’t stress enough how important it is to me that these suspects face charges. This suspect has a history of violent behavior in the area, and it is vital that he’s held accountable so he can’t continue to harm any innocent person or animal.”

Delgado also faces charges of petit theft and remains at the Falkenburg Road Jail where his bail was set at $50,000.