‘What are you doing with that dog?’: Florida man arrested after his puppy is exposed to cocaine

John Sparhawk has been charged with animal cruelty after witnesses reported him strangling his five-month-old puppy, which was later determined to be suffering from cocaine exposure, according to Martin County Sheriff. (Credit: Martin County Sheriff/WPBF via CNN Newsource)

A Jensen Beach man has been charged with animal cruelty after witnesses reported him strangling his five-month-old puppy, which was later determined to be suffering from cocaine exposure, according to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek.

The sheriff’s office began investigating the case on April 28 when witnesses reported the case.

Investigators responded and shared a photo of the puppy, named Inga, who remains in protective custody with the Humane Society as detectives continue their investigation.

“The dog’s pupils were blown,” Budensiek said. “Similar to a human being’s pupils.”

Witnesses reported hearing the puppy’s cries and allegedly saw 62-year-old John Sparhawk holding the dog above his head and strangling it.

Casey Rosica was one of the witnesses.

“I ran out of the truck, and I see a dog about six and a half feet in the air and it’s screaming for its life, and I said, ‘Hey, what are you doing with that dog?’ And he freaked out, he really didn’t know how to respond, and he drops the dog,” Rosica said.

The Humane Society confirmed that Inga was transported to an emergency veterinary hospital. Sparhawk reportedly told neighbors the puppy was suffering from a seizure and asked them to take it to a hospital.

Veterinarians later determined the dog’s condition was caused by cocaine exposure, which triggered the medical episode. Sparhawk told detectives the puppy may have eaten something bad in the woods, but veterinarians confirmed the symptoms were consistent with cocaine intoxication.

“I’m not sitting here saying the dog stole his stash or it was his stash at all or that he injected the dog with cocaine. I’m just simply telling you that the dog was highly intoxicated on cocaine,” Budensiek said.

Deputies were called to the Humane Society after Sparhawk showed up there, reportedly threatening workers.

“He was there yesterday kind of showing out a little bit, threatening the workers at the Humane Society. Our deputies responded out there, trespassed him, and he cannot go back on their property. The dog is safe, and he was arrested because we had a warrant for him,” Budensiek said.

Sparhawk was taken into custody and later released. Inga remains in protective custody with the Humane Society as investigators continue to determine what happened.