Boynton Beach police say a black Labrador wearing a service dog vest was slammed to the ground, struck with a bottle, and swung through the air by its leash, not once, but during two separate incidents just a day apart. Investigators say surveillance video from both encounters, along with a witness who watched it happen, points to one man: 52-year-old Juan Latrez Poole. He now faces a felony animal cruelty charge.

A dog trained to help someone else move safely through the world was allegedly hurt for no reason at all. Witnesses say the animal was shaking and flinching, clearly terrified, as it was yanked and lifted off the ground in public. That kind of cruelty deserves more than a $1,000 bond and a court date that fades into the background.

The Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office has the power to pursue this case to the fullest extent the law allows, and to make sure this dog is never returned to the person accused of hurting it. Service animals and pets alike deserve protection under the law, and the people who abuse them in plain view, caught on camera, should face real consequences.

This case should not quietly disappear into a backlog. Add your name to call on Palm Beach County prosecutors to pursue the maximum felony penalties against Juan Poole and to ensure this dog is placed somewhere safe for good. Sign the petition now, before this story fades and accountability does too.