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Puppy’s leg may need amputation, owner facing cruelty charge for 'unjustifiable force:' PCSO

By and Nancy Gay
Published  September 10, 2024 11:33am EDT
Pinellas County
FOX 13 News

Man accused of breaking dog’s leg

Pinellas County deputies say Darion Molina injured his 11-month-old lab mix, Rose, with veterinarians saying her leg may need to be amputated.

PALM HARBOR, Fla. - A Palm Harbor man is facing animal cruelty charges after detectives say he broke his 11-month-old puppy's leg, which now may have to be amputated.

Pinellas County deputies said Dairon Molina, 22, brought his labrador mix named Rose to an emergency vet with a broken leg on Aug. 30.

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An x-ray of Rose's leg shows her femur bone broken and two and detached.

Officials say Rose suffered a broken right femur and her injury did not appear to be accidental. Images are courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

Officials say Rose suffered a broken right femur and her injury did not appear to be accidental. Images are courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. 

The arrest affidavit shows that Molina first told deputies his "roommate kicked the dog down the stairs," then said "that Rose had fallen down their carpeted and padded stairs, but the vet noted in the affidavit 'the femur bone is the hardest bone in a dog's body'" and a "simple fall down the stairs would not result in this type of injury" and "instead, an extreme amount of force would be required to break the bone."

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Molina was Rose’s sole caretaker when she was hurt, and her injury was from unjustifiable force.

"I'm sick because that bone is really pretty thick, fat bone and to break it like it wasn't just a crack, it was a total break," animal advocate and Humane Society of Tampa Bay President Sherry Silk said.

Dairon Molina mugshot courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

Dairon Molina mugshot courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. 

"We are so fortunate that this veterinarian had the ability and caring and empathy to call the authorities because that's the main message I think we see cruelty here," Silk said.

Silk says, unfortunately, she's seen worse cases and while physical injuries can heal she says emotional trauma will take time. Deputies say in the affidavit, while at the vet "Rose displayed signs of fear towards the defendant, attempting to crawl away from him on multiple occasions during her visit."

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"I hope they throw the book at this guy – the judges, the prosecutors, the police, all law enforcement. We have to take animal abuse seriously. I think we've gotten better in the last ten years, but I think we still have a long way to go," Silk said.

Molina was arrested and charged with one count of cruelty to animals. FOX 13 made attempts to reach him and have not heard back.

Molina surrendered ownership of Rose, who is now in the care of Pinellas County Animal Services.

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