Deputies: Man Killed Puppies With Shovel

David Thompson went to a mobile home on Catalona Avenue in Moon Lake Estates Friday, April 26 to help his friend Martin Smith move out, according to a Pasco County Sheriff’s Office’s incident report. 

Smith and his father, who also came over to help him move out, got into an argument about what to do with the 8-week-old puppies in the mobile home’s yard. There were also two adult pit bulls there. Smith later told deputies he didn’t have the money to care for the puppies.

Thompson, 21, is now accused of settling the argument in his own way. He told deputies he took a shovel and hit each puppy in the head with it. The force of each strike was enough to kill, the report said.

When a deputy arrived at the home, a local took them to a spot in the backyard where there was a dog crate over some leaves. The witness dug at the spot and revealed a dead puppy there. There were three more dead puppies in the hole. The puppies were still covered with live fleas, the report said.

Thompson of 10100 Jungle St. was arrested Saturday and charged with cruelty to animals. He remained in the Land O’ Lakes Jail Monday in lieu of $5,00 bail.

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