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.