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State Attorney Bill Gladson Files Charges in TikTok Animal Cruelty Case

State Attorney Bill Gladson Files Charges in TikTok Animal Cruelty Case

State Attorney Bill Gladson announced that charges have been filed against Larry Colon and Frankie Huertas-Rivera for aggravated animal cruelty and practicing veterinarian medicine without a license. The two men were arrested after the release of a TikTok video which depicted the men performing a c-section on Colon’s pregnant French Bulldog.

The cases against Colon and Huertas-Rivera came to law enforcement’s attention after a video was posted to TikTok showing the men performing a c-section on a French Bulldog in the living room of Colon’s Lake County home.  

The day after the video was posted, Lyla was brought to a veterinary clinic where she was pronounced dead. Law enforcement’s investigation revealed that neither Huertas-Rivera or Colon are licensed veterinarians.

“Florida law requires a veterinary license to perform these types of procedures, and this case is a great example why,” said State Attorney Bill Gladson. “The video makes it clear that Lyla experienced unnecessary suffering, something specifically prohibited by the animal cruelty statute.”

Colon and Huertas-Rivera are both charged with seven counts of aggravated animal cruelty, one count of conspiracy to commit aggravated animal cruelty, and one count of practicing veterinarian medicine without a license. Assistant State Attorney Jamie McManus is prosecuting the case.


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Media Contact: Walter Forgie, (352) 671-5900, wforgie@sao5.org