Boynton Beach Man Accused of Abusing Service Dog

A Boynton Beach man faces felony animal cruelty charges after allegedly abusing a service dog on two separate occasions last week. Juan Latrez Poole, 52, of Boynton Beach, was arrested Sept. 14, according to Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office booking records.

The alleged incidents, which occurred Sept. 9 and Sept. 10, were captured on surveillance video, authorities said. On Sept. 9, a witness reported seeing a man lift a black Labrador retriever, identified as Rex, above his head and slam it to the ground. Rex, who wore a red service dog vest, appeared to weigh approximately 50 pounds. Responding officers could not locate the man or the dog at the time.

The following day, Sept. 10, another witness reported a similar incident several blocks away. According to a police news release, the caller watched as the man allegedly choked the dog with its leash, lifted the animal off the ground and struck it with a water bottle. The caller described the dog as visibly terrified, shaking and cowering.

Surveillance footage corroborated both accounts. The first video shows a man, later identified as Poole, lifting the dog completely off the ground before slamming it to the pavement. The second video depicts the man yanking the dog’s leash, striking the animal with a bottle and hoisting it by its neck several feet into the air before dropping it.

Poole was identified through a photo lineup by a witness. He was released from jail after posting a $30,000 bond. Informed of the charges, Poole told an officer that Rex did not have any bruises and was not damaged. He denied the witnesses’ accounts, stating, “I’ve never hit my dog, and that is completely untrue.”

Rex was transported to Palm Beach County Animal Care & Control and is seeking a permanent home.