CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) — A puppy was left unable to walk properly and found covered in pickle juice and hot sauce following an incident at a Clearwater apartment on Thursday, according to an arrest affidavit.
Police in Clearwater reported that La’Myah Rumph, the 19-year-old owner of the pit bull puppy, became “enraged” when the 5-month-old dog had an accident in her room and defecated on her bed.
Investigators stated that Rumph aggressively grabbed the puppy by its neck, lifted it into the air, and punched it with her fist. She then hurled the dog into a crate with such force that the metal door broke, according to officials.
However, she didn’t stop there. Police said Rumph went on to throw a “copious” amount of pickle juice and hot sauce on the puppy as it was lying within the cage.
Officers who were called to the Alpine Road apartment found the puppy covered in sauce inside the cage. They said the dog was “trembling, shaking, upset and visibly distraught.”
Police also noticed that the area in and around the cage was “scattered with feces,” the affidavit said. The puppy was unable to fully bear weight on its left hind leg due to injuries sustained from the incident.
Pinellas County Animal Control took custody of the puppy, and it was taken to a veterinarian to be further examined.
Rumph was arrested and charged with cruelty to animals. Her bond was set at $5,000.
