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Hernando Today

Tipster Leads To Dogs Seized

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By KYLE MARTIN

Hernando Today

Published: June 10, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Two pit bulls were taken on a judge's order Friday from the house of a man who spent six months in jail for beating his dog to death in 2003.

An anonymous tip last Wednesday led animal control officers to Juergen "Jack" Loeffler's house on Peyton Place in Brooksville.

The tipster said that Loeffler was verbally abusing his dogs and kicking them, court records show. The officers "immediately" went to investigate and said they found a pit bull puppy tied to a tree with a heavy chain without access to water. It was unclear if the older pit bull inside the Florida room had access to water, but the air wasn't circulating, according to a petition to have the animals seized dated Friday.
Circuit Judge Kurt Hitzemann signed it that same day and the dogs were removed from the property.

On Monday, Loeffler, 61, vowed to fight the seizure in court and questioned the officers' report.

"It's just a bad deal," he said.

He came home on Friday to find the dogs missing and a sheaf of paperwork left behind. Both the dogs had water bowls and shelter from the elements, he said.

The puppy, named Peewee, is about 4 1/2 months old and the older dog, about 4-years-old, is named Rusty. He keeps them as pets and for protection.

An arrest affidavit included in the court filing narrates the events of Aug. 23, 2003, when Loeffler punched and kicked a pit bull to death in his front yard.

Five independent witnesses told deputies how he struck the dog until it stopped moving, then dragged the body around his front yard by a chain around its neck.

The witnesses described the scene as "brutal" and said that Loeffler had "full intention of killing this animal."

Court records show Loeffler pleaded guilty to a charge of animal cruelty and was sentenced to eight months in jail, though the sentence was shortened to about six months.

Asked about the charge, Loeffler said he was in "bad circumstances."

Reporter Kyle Martin can be reached at 352-544-5271 or kmartin@hernandotoday.com.

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