A Brevard County man is behind bars after deputies found his dog, nicknamed Brutus, so emaciated during a wellness check. Vasudeva Sankar, 37, was taken into custody on Thursday and now faces a charge of animal cruelty, with bond set at $5,000.
According to WKMG, deputies initially spotted the emaciated dog during a wellness check. Investigators said a veterinarian had examined Brutus the previous year and found him already bone thin at that time.
Vet Recommended Follow-Up Tests That Never Happened
Investigators said the vet recommended follow-up tests for Brutus back in 2025, but Sankar did nothing, even as the dog was reportedly in severe pain.
What Florida Law Says About Animal Cruelty
Florida Statutes include a section on animal cruelty, according to Florida Legislature statutes.
Sheriff Has Spoken Out Before on Animal Cruelty
This is not the first time Ivey has publicly condemned a case of animal neglect in Brevard County. In 2022, the sheriff said two rescued dogs named Katie and Darcy weighed just 38.4 and 31.6 pounds when his team found them, according to a Space Coast Daily report at the time.
Sankar remains in custody on the $5,000 bond as the case moves forward. No additional details about the circumstances of Brutus's death or the specific charge Sankar faces have been made public.
