NORTH PORT, Fla. — Two North Port brothers were arrested after a gruesome video circulated of them watching a puppy get its ears cut off at their home.
In July, police received a video from the PETA organization that showed a small pit bull getting its ears cut off without the use of anesthesia. The dog was seen in the video losing an enormous amount of blood from the cutting.
According to the North Port Police Department, both brothers, Merald (24) and Matthew (28) Onyemaechi watched the incident happen in their home and refused to help the dog while it suffered.
On Monday morning, police searched a home in the 4000 block of Baynes Road where the suspected animal cruelty occurred. Merald and Matthew were arrested and were both charged with one felony count of aggravated animal cruelty. A third person seen in the video cutting the dog’s ears off has not yet been identified at this time.
The dog survived the illegal procedure and four other dogs were removed from the home. They are now in the care of Sarasota County Animal Services.
Merald and Matthew have a $50,000 bond and will not be allowed to have animals in the future.