James Cordell Doughty Suthann has been fired and jailed after he abused an animal in his care. The Florida dog groomer was captured on video mistreating a disabled combat veteran’s German Shepherd last week in Brevard County, Florida.
The terrible act was so upsetting, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey called it “one of the most difficult things I have ever had to watch” in his 39 years of law enforcement.
“During a grooming appointment, Suthann became angry when an 8 year old German Shepard Service Dog would not stand still as Suthann was trying to complete the grooming process,” the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office explained on Facebook.
In the security video, Suthann can be seen striking the dog in the head with a hose before lifting the animal by its tail. According to Sheriff Ivey, Suthann lifted the German Shepherd off the ground by its tail, which caused the tail “to be twisted a full 360 degrees and to be broken to the extent it could not be reattached.”
The 8-year-old German Shepherd known as “TT” underwent emergency surgery. Surgeons were unable to repair the damage and her tail had to be amputated.
Suthann was arrested and charged with felony cruelty to animals. He was taken to the Brevard County Jail where Sheriff Ivey and Police Chief Jeff Pearson personally walked him to jail.
“Unfortunately, the maximum bond that could be placed on Suthann was $2,000.00, because they don’t let me personally set the bond amounts for criminals like this guy,” Sheriff Ivey explained. “Please know that the owners of the Grooming Facility where this incident occurred had no knowledge that Suthann was capable of this type of activity and upon learning of the incident, took immediate and appropriate action to have him no longer at their facility.”
Had the horrible act not been captured on video it is doubtful Suthann would have been held fully accountable.
WARNING: The video below is graphic in nature. If you are upset by violence against animals, please DO NOT WATCH.