Cops: Man arrested after beating dog to death

Man charged with animal cruelty in June incident

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – The Orange County Sheriff's Office has arrested a man who deputies say beat his own dog to death.

Luke Stribling, 20, has been charged with two counts of animal cruelty in the June incident, according to Orange County sheriff's investigators.

Stribling took his 17-month-old Shiba Inu to a veterinarian after he said the dog, named Julian, broke his leg while walking on a wooden deck.

Two weeks later, investigators said, Stribling went to another veterinarian with a now-deceased dog, looking for help.

Investigators said an autopsy showed the puppy had suffered severe internal injuries, including a hemorrhaging eye, liver and brain.

Friends of Stribling told investigators he had punched the dog for urinating inside his University of Central Florida-area apartment.

Deputies arrested Stribling on Friday afternoon, and he posted his $1,500 bond almost immediately.

Records show Stribling took a four-hour course on responsible pet ownership at Orange County Animal Services earlier this month.

He also paid a $256 fine.


About the Author:

Erik Sandoval joined the News 6 team as a reporter in May 2013 and became an Investigator in 2020. During his time at News 6, Erik has covered several major stories, including the 2016 Presidential campaign. He was also one of the first reporters live on the air at the Pulse Nightclub shooting.