Dog left with fractured tooth and a broken jaw at Florida dog day care
By Ari Hait
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DELRAY BEACH, Florida (WPBF) — Grace Salcedo’s 7-month-old poodle, Cosmo, was left with a fractured tooth and a broken jaw after a visit to Wanderlust Dogs in Delray Beach, where investigators suspect the business owner, Jason Hershman, punched the dog in the face.
“Justice for Cosmo. That’s all I want,” Salcedo said.
Salcedo said it happened in May on the first day she tried Wanderlust Dogs for day care.
She said she received a text from the day care later in the day with a picture of Cosmo, suggesting his tooth might have been cracked from chewing on a metal bowl.
Cosmo required two surgeries for his injuries, one for the fractured tooth and another for the broken jaw.
Salcedo said that although she doubted the metal bowl explanation, she did not call the police.
However, in July, police called her to say they were investigating multiple animal abuse complaints at Wanderlust Dogs and believed Hershman was responsible for Cosmo’s injuries.
“I wanted to throw up. I got nauseated. I just couldn’t believe what was being said,” Salcedo said.
“What kind of a coward punches a dog this little?” Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw asked during a Thursday news conference to discuss Hershman’s arrest.
Detectives said Hershman was alone with Cosmo when the injuries occurred.
“Multiple employees later reported hearing a loud crash and a scream, observing Cosmo bleeding, disoriented and in distress,” Detective Eric Zadanosky said.
Detectives allege Hershman instructed employees to lie about the incident.
“Not only have we arrested and charged him, we’re going to go after his license and shut that business down,” Bradshaw said.
“He’s a puppy. If you have an issue with animals like that, why do you have a business with animals?” Salcedo said.
Jason Hershman now faces one count of aggravated animal cruelty and is currently free on bond.
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