TOWN ‘N’ COUNTRY, Fla.— A woman was caught after a video was found of her using a rubber club to beat a dog.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) said they got a call Monday about animal abuse at a home on Halifax Drive in Town ‘N’ County, which is near Tampa.
When the police came, videotape showed Elizabeth Jaimes, 24, holding a 9-year-old Siberian Husky named “Maya” on a leash and repeatedly hitting the dog on the head and body with a rubber club.
**Warning: Some people may find this video upsetting because it shows animal abuse. **Use caution when watching.
Investigators think that the abuse may have started as early as October 2022. Since then, Maya has been abused many times, which has left her with lasting damage. When Maya was taken to the Veterinary Emergency Group, staff said she had multiple blunt-force injuries to her head and back, including broken ribs and the spine, and was blind in one eye.
Jaimes, her boyfriend, and his mother, who owns Maya, lived in the house. The sheriff’s office said they started to notice Maya was getting hurt around August when Jaimes moved in. At the request of her vet, Jaimes put a secret camera in her house to see what was happening to the dog.
In an interview, Jaimes told the sheriff’s office that she hit the dog because it had growled at her.
At this time, the sheriff’s office said that Maya was reunited with her owner and is healing at home. The owner has put a court order against Jaimes.
“Nothing could make up for this cruel treatment. Sheriff Chronister said, “Maya is a sweet and loving animal who didn’t deserve to be tortured.” “This is why it’s so important that we look into it. We need to find out how long the abuse has been going on. We are committed to looking into this case and making sure that Jaimes pays for what she did.
Jaimes was arrested on Monday and given a $7,500 bond to get out of jail.
