Man arrested for tying cinder block to dog, tossing in Gulf

What a psycho



A Charlotte County man has been arrested for a cruel and unusual crime against an animal. Deputies said 61-year-old Thomas Hoeckel tied a cinderblock to his dog's harness and threw him into the Gulf of Mexico.

"Absolutely disgusting on all levels," said Englewood resident Heidi Williams.

A helpless family dog was swept ashore a Don Pedro Island beach just two days after he was reported missing by one of the owners.

"There was some sort of domestic issue that caused this to transpire," said Charlotte County Animal Control officer Ronelle Moore.

A family vacationing was swimming, saw the dog and brought it on shore.

Hoeckel had been fighting with his wife who reported the dog missing. No one answered the door at the couple's Englewood home on Georgia Avenue. Investigators say his wife moved out.

"Aggression or abuse toward animals is often hand-in-hand with abuse toward people with domestic situations," said Moore.

Thomas Hoeckel faces charges of causing a cruel death, pain and suffering to an animal, a felony, and unlawfully disposing a body of an animal.

"It goes to show, where is the human race going as far as compassion?" asked Williams. "Doing that to that dog is not going to get back at the wife."

 

He's being charged with animal cruelty. Unfortunately, the legal system is rather light in punishment toward animals. I hope he does spend some time in jail though. He could easily escalate toward people if his attitude toward life is so callous.

 

That's usually how serial killers start. With the torture and killing of animals

 

He looks like a grown version of the puppy we just got.

 

Awwww. Too cute!

 

What a cutie. How can someone hurt such a wonderful creature? I don't get it.

 

The motive for harming a dog is revenge for a man's wife walking out on him? She must've done the right thing except she should have taken the dog with her. He's an asshole.

 

I will be in jail if someone harmed one of my animals...I would kill him with my bare hands

ditto on the cute puppy

 

Psycho much?

 

This! Maybe not kill him, but he will be sorry he ever got close to me.

 

She took the dog with her. I don't know how he got the dog though.
In the article it says:

Hoeckel's wife had reported her dog missing just days before the body washed towards shore. Following the tragic discovery, the woman is reported to have moved out of the couple's Englewood home.

 

yep, just like the mafia...you hurt my family I hurt you:smt066