In a disturbing act of cruelty that has outraged the nation, a Fort Myers, Florida man was arrested after being caught on video violently slamming his small dog against a wall and kneeling on it while it cried out in pain. The footage, recorded by a witness, shows the man—identified by police as Michael Cook, 44—repeatedly abusing the helpless animal in the courtyard of a downtown apartment complex along McGregor Boulevard.
The witness immediately intervened, confronting Cook and calling authorities while the dog whimpered in agony. The man reportedly showed no remorse and even attempted to justify his actions by blaming the dog’s obedience and house training issues. But there is no justification for such brutality. (Scroll Down to Watch the Video)
Sign the petition to demand that Fort Myers authorities impose a lifetime ban on animal ownership and mandatory mental health intervention for this man.
Police Respond — and the Video Tells the Story
When Fort Myers police arrived on the scene, they reviewed the graphic video footage and detained Cook. According to official reports, Cook admitted to “mistreating” the dog but claimed it was due to frustration with its behavior. Officers called in the Lee County Sheriff’s Animal Cruelty Unit and Animal Control, who immediately took custody of the traumatized dog for medical evaluation…