Domingo Rodriguez, 66, adopted a four-year-old bulldog mix named Dexter from Pinellas County Animal Services on May 10, but just four days later, Dexter was found decapitated in a plastic bag in the mangroves of East Beach, Fort De Soto. Authorities identified the dog through a microchip and linked Rodriguez as the owner.
Rodriguez claimed Dexter ran away the night he was adopted, but surveillance footage showed him at Fort De Soto on May 11 with a large cooler in his truck. Investigators also found similar bags to the one used at Rodriguez’s home. His wife reported the dog was fine the night before but missing alongside Rodriguez the next morning.
Rodriguez faces charges of animal cruelty and improper disposal of a dead animal. Released on a $5,000 bond, he is set to stand trial on December 5, 2024. Pinellas County Animal Services expressed shock and is cooperating with the investigation, noting no prior issues in Rodriguez's adoption screening.
