No Jail Time For Man Who Beat Puppy

An Orange county mother still doesn't know why a stranger attacked a family pet. The family’s puppy was beaten in front of a 13-year-old boy as the pair played in their yard on October 5, 2009.

The man responsible pleaded no contest Thursday to a felony charge of animal cruelty, but his punishment doesn't include additional jail time.

Sylvia Brantley could barely bring herself to look at 50-year-old Frank Nibbs inside the Orange County courthouse Thursday. He pleaded no contest to a felony charge of animal cruelty.

Brantley told WFTV Nibbs beat her family's four-pound Pekinese so severely that he broke the puppy's jaw. Now, Max is blind in one eye and missing some teeth.

Brantley told the judge her 13-year-old son witnessed the attack.

“He was in a state of shock. He couldn't move,” she said.

Nibbs appeared with a construction level and began beating the puppy. She'd never seen Nibbs before. The attack only ended when Brantley threw herself on top of the dog.

“I put my body over him to keep him from hitting him,” she said.

Brantley doesn't know what prompted the beating and, fearing a pending civil suit, Nibbs wasn't talking.

The state recommended jail time. But, in the end, Nibbs was sentenced to three years probation and a mandatory animal care class. He must also pay restitution and stay away from Brantley's family.

“While I consider this an egregious offense, it seems to be out of character with his history,” Judge Bob Leblanc said.

Nibbs could have been sentenced up to five years prison.

"It hurts to look at him, to know you could do something like that to an innocent puppy, just an innocent puppy," she said.

Brantley told WFTV that, after the attack, she moved her family out of their Rosemont neighborhood because they no longer felt safe there.

“This person needs to learn a pet is part of the family. He was part of our family. He's still a part of our family,” Brantley said.

A representative from Orange County Animal Services attended Thursday’s hearing due to the nature of the attack.

Brantley has already spent $1,500 in medical expenses and told WFTV that Max still needs more surgery.