A dog found chained by the legs to a cinder block on a sunken sailboat near Coconut Grove has triggered a formal animal cruelty investigation, after a Facebook post detailing the discovery spread rapidly across South Florida social media this week. The post included a video of the dog floating underwater, still bound to the block, along with a photo of the animal's remains after it was pulled from the water showing visible decomposition.
The post was written by Barbie Wynn, who according to the Miami Herald shared four paragraphs, a video and a photo on Tuesday alleging the abuse. Wynn said the dog was discovered on a sunken sailboat sitting in a main channel before the entrance to the docks in the Coconut Grove area of the city of Miami. The outlet reported that Wynn could not be reached for additional comment after the post went public.
Miami Beach Police Department confirmed it was aware of the social media post depicting suspected animal cruelty and said an investigation was underway, though the case had not been formally reported to that department. Department spokesman Christopher Bess said Miami Beach detectives and an animal resource officer worked to confirm the authenticity and location of the claim. Because the incident happened in Coconut Grove rather than Miami Beach, the case was handed off to Miami police, who are now investigating the video and the circumstances surrounding it.
Detectives Chase Leads as Case Moves Forward
Miami police said detectives are investigating, following up on leads, working to determine the circumstances of the dog's death and trying to identify whoever is responsible. Miami Beach police said in a statement that they take animal cruelty seriously and appreciate the public's assistance in bringing the case to light. Miami-Dade Animal Services could not be reached for comment, the Miami Herald reported.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about the incident to call the Miami Police Department at 305-579-6111. No arrests had been announced as of publication.
What Florida Law Says About This Kind of Cruelty
If investigators determine the dog was intentionally drowned, the case could fall under Florida's aggravated animal cruelty statute. Under Florida Statute § 828.12(2), intentionally committing an act that results in the cruel death or excessive, unnecessary pain and suffering of an animal is classified as a third-degree felony, carrying up to five years in prison and fines up to $10,000, according to the Florida Senate. Convictions involving intentional torture also carry a mandatory $2,500 fine and required psychological counseling.
State judges may also prohibit animal abuse offenders from owning or controlling animals for a court-ordered period under Florida's Ponce's Law, enacted in 2018 following public outrage over a dog's killing in Volusia County, according to the Pallegar Law Firm. In Miami-Dade County specifically, prosecutors have built out dedicated infrastructure for cases like this one: the Office of State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle maintains an Animal Cruelty Unit, led by a Chief Assistant State Attorney, that investigates and prosecutes both felony and misdemeanor abuse cases, per the Office of the Miami-Dade State Attorney. The county also runs a public Animal Abuser Registry listing people convicted of cruelty offenses, intended to inform local adoption organizations and residents.
A Sunken Boat in a Waterway Full of Them
The location of the discovery underscores a persistent problem in Biscayne Bay. Miami-Dade County reported removing 51 derelict vessels in 2021.
The sailboat where the dog was found sits near the main channel leading into the docks, not far from the City of Miami's Dinner Key Mooring Facility. Whether investigators can trace the sunken sailboat to a registered owner remains an open question in the case.
Part of a Broader Pattern Across South Florida
The Coconut Grove case comes amid other animal cruelty cases across the region. Hoodline previously reported that a Downtown Miami high-rise resident was arrested on felony charges in September after neighbors circulated video of a neglected dog left on a balcony.
For now, the Coconut Grove investigation remains in its early stages, with Miami police working to confirm what happened aboard the sunken sailboat and who may be responsible. No charges have been filed, and the dog's owner, if one can be identified, has not been named.
