{"id":69,"date":"2026-05-10T21:35:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-10T21:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tampamovingjournal.com\/?p=69"},"modified":"2026-05-10T21:35:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-10T21:35:00","slug":"florida-man-accused-of-strangling-puppy-suffering-from-cocaine-induced-seizure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tampamovingjournal.com\/?p=69","title":{"rendered":"Florida man accused of strangling puppy suffering from cocaine-induced seizure"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/figure>\n article<\/span><\/div>

John Burt Sparhawk, 62, was taken into custody by Martin County deputies on a warrant for animal cruelty. Witnesses reported seeing Sparhawk strangling and repeatedly lifting a 5-month-old puppy off the ground by its leash. Courtesy: Martin County Sh<\/span> <\/p>

Read more HCSO K-9 finds missing and endangered 96-year-old in woods<\/a><\/p>

Expand<\/div><\/div><\/div> <\/div>

JENSEN BEACH, Fla.<\/strong> – <\/span>A Florida man was arrested, and a puppy is in protective custody at the Humane Society after deputies said the dog was exposed to cocaine and being strangled.<\/p>

The backstory:<\/p>

According to the Martin County Sheriff\u2019s Office, witnesses reported hearing a five-month-old beagle mix crying as John Burt Sparhawk, 62, held it above his head, trying to strangle it.<\/p>

<\/div>

Another witness reportedly told investigators that Sparhawk wrapped the dog\u2019s leash around its throat and repeatedly lifted the dog off the ground by the leash.<\/p>

According to the witness, the puppy was choking and trying to bark but could not, and would cry each time it was released back onto the ground.<\/p>

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A 5-month-old Puggle puppy sits in the back of a Martin County Sheriff\u2019s Office patrol vehicle after being rescued from an animal cruelty situation. Courtesy: Martin County Sheriff’s Office.<\/span> <\/p>

Read more Super speeder found with handgun and fentanyl arrested: FHP<\/a><\/p> <\/div><\/div>

Deputies said Sparhawk claimed the dog was having a seizure before he walked away and told neighbors to take it to a hospital.<\/p>

Dig deeper:<\/p>

A deputy immediately took the dog to an emergency veterinarian hospital, where medical staff said the animal\u2019s medical episode was triggered by cocaine exposure.<\/p>

Sparhawk reportedly told deputies that the puppy may have eaten something bad in the woods, which caused its seizures, but veterinarians confirmed the dog\u2019s condition was consistent with cocaine exposure.<\/p>

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\"\"<\/figure>\n

John Burt Sparhawk, 62, is taken into custody by Martin County deputies on a warrant for animal cruelty. Courtesy: Martin County Sheriff’s Office<\/span> <\/p> <\/div><\/div>

He was arrested and charged with animal cruelty.<\/p>

The puppy is in protective custody with the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast.<\/p>

Read more Florida man arrested for tossing away newborn kittens accused of threatening family member: \u2018Dead man walking\u2019<\/a><\/p> <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Florida man was arrested, and a puppy is in protective custody at the Humane Society after deputies said the dog was exposed to cocaine and being strangled.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":65,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,25],"tags":[8,26],"class_list":["post-69","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime-and-public-safety","category-florida","tag-crime-and-public-safety","tag-florida"],"yoast_head":"\nFlorida man accused of strangling puppy suffering from cocaine-induced seizure - Tampa moving journal<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/tampamovingjournal.com\/?p=69\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Florida man accused of strangling puppy suffering from cocaine-induced seizure - 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