Vegas Dog Abuse – C Felony – $10,000 Fine + Jail Time

LAS VEGAS — The District Attorney’s Office has charged a Las Vegas man with felony cruelty to animals for allegedly beating a dog over a period of several months.

It is the first case where an animal was actually seized from an owner so it could be examined by a veterinarian.

According to the office, Roy Cozart, 30, is accused of beating his pit bull.

“There is another allegation of hitting the dog with a hammer, and hitting the dog with a rock. And we are not going to accept that. it’s wrong, plain and simple these are defenseless animals, these are animals that give us humans unconditional love,” District Attorney Steve Wolfson said.

Neighbors reported the abuse to Clark County Animal Control in August and again in October.

When animal control first investigated the abuse, they found the dog was active and playful.

However, after getting another report of abuse, animal control officers decided that the dog should be seized and examined by a veterinarian.

The veterinarian found the animal had swelling on its head and broken ribs, according to the DA’s office.

Cruelty to animals is a Category C felony which is punishable by one to five years in prison along with a $10,000 fine.

A law passed in 2011 made animal cruelty a felony in Nevada.