Palm Coast Man Arrested for Aggravated Animal Cruelty in Dog Strangulation

Howard Blair, a 55-year-old man from Palm Coast, Florida, was arrested on felony charges of aggravated animal cruelty after strangling his 15-month-old American Bulldog and Labrador Retriever mix named Nutmeg. The incident occurred in January when Nutmeg bit another dog during feeding time, prompting Blair to kill her, wrap her body in a blanket, place it in a plastic bin, and bury it in the backyard. Deputies responded to an animal complaint on January 25 and learned of Nutmeg's death, leading to an investigation that resulted in an arrest warrant for Blair in May. Blair was taken into custody and later released on a $2,500 bond. Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly praised the thorough investigation and emphasized the county's commitment to prosecuting animal cruelty cases. Under Ponce's Law, aggravated animal cruelty convictions carry mandatory penalties including fines and counseling or anger management treatment.