Rashad Payne {BSO}
By Kevin Deutsch
A Coconut Creek man was arrested for animal cruelty Friday after police said his actions caused the death of his French Bulldog puppy.
Rashad Payne, 31, of 4250 NW 10th St., had his son tie their 1-year-old dog, named Blue, to a chain-link fence on the east side of their house Friday afternoon, according to an arrest affidavit.
Payne and his 9-year-old son then left the dog without food or water, in 95-degree heat, restrained by a short leash and a collar that constricted his windpipe, the records state.
Coconut Creek Police responded to the home in the South Creek neighborhood just after 6 p.m. Friday to investigate an allegation of animal cruelty, according to the department.
When officers arrived, they found Blue dead.
The collar he wore was pinching his windpipe, and his leash lacked enough slack to let him breathe properly, police said.
The temperature outside had reached 90 degrees that afternoon but felt like 96 degrees with the humidity, according to the officers.
Payne’s son told police Blue “does not like to be outside and does not like the heat,” the affidavit states.
Payne was charged with animal cruelty causing pain, death, or suffering and booked into the Broward County Main Jail.
Bond information for his case was not available Tuesday.
Police said their investigation into the crime is ongoing.
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