DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A Daytona Beach man was arrested on charges of animal abuse after allegedly mistreating a cat in his yard last month, according to the police department in a report released Friday.
The man, identified as Dean Bell, 61, was seen trapping the black cat in a small metal cage on the morning of Dec. 31, police said. He then sprayed the trapped cat in its face and body with a high-pressure hose while standing over the cage in his front yard.
According to the arrest affidavit, the cat was unable to move freely within the trap and had no way to escape Bell’s actions. Police also stated that the temperature outside at the time was only around 45 degrees, causing excessive infliction of pain and torment to the animal.
In addition to the spraying, neighbors reported seeing Bell repeatedly drop the caged cat. When confronted by a neighbor about his actions, Bell reportedly said that the cat should not have been in his yard.
A video of the incident was posted on Facebook by a neighbor and later released by the police. Bell was taken into custody early Friday morning and faces a charge of animal cruelty. He was released shortly afterward on a bond of $2,500.
The arrest comes after increasing attention to animal welfare issues and the mistreatment of animals, sparking discussions about the importance of protecting and caring for animals in our communities. This incident serves as a reminder of the significance of holding individuals accountable when they engage in acts of cruelty toward animals.