The Brief
- A Pinellas County judge granted bond for Domingo Rodriguez while he appeals his conviction.
- A jury found him guilty of aggravated cruelty to animals and unlawful disposal of bodies of dead animals.
- The case inspired Florida lawmakers to pass “Dexter’s Law.”
CLEARWATER, Fla. – A Pinellas County judge granted bond Wednesday for the man convicted of killing and dumping a rescue dog days after adopting him, as he appeals his conviction.
Case against Domingo Rodriguez
The backstory:
Domingo Rodriguez adopted a 4-year-old bulldog mix, Dexter, from Pinellas County Animal Services in May 2024. Four days later, deputies found the dog decapitated in a plastic bag floating in the mangroves of East Beach in Fort De Soto.
In February 2025, a jury found Rodriguez guilty of aggravated cruelty to animals and unlawful disposal of bodies of dead animals.
He’s currently serving a sentence of one year and 60 days in jail.…