Twenty-eight-year-old Marco Aurelio Zuluaga, from Coral Springs, was arrested the day after Christmas after surveillance footage captured him violently slamming a small dog onto a concrete floor. The incident, described as ‘disgusting and disturbing’ by Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez, took place at the Jamison Apartments in Kissimmee. Zuluaga was charged with animal cruelty against Lilly, a 1½-year-old mini Australian shepherd. According to court records, he was released from the Osceola County Jail on a $5,000 bond but is prohibited from owning or possessing animals.
The incident was captured on apartment surveillance footage at approximately 8:30 a.m. on December 26, 2024. The video shows Zuluaga exiting an apartment carrying Lilly, who was dressed in a red, green, and white holiday-themed sweater. He briefly steps out of view before reappearing and violently swinging the dog from his chest over his shoulder, slamming her onto the concrete floor.
During a news conference, Sheriff Lopez showed the video and detailed the force used in the act, stating, “The amount of force he uses is just disgusting and disturbing and unacceptable, and it’s a miracle that he didn’t kill this dog. Animals have feelings, and they should never be treated like this.”
The footage revealed that Lilly bounced off the concrete floor upon impact and yelped in agony before running away. The force of the act was so severe that Zuluaga appeared to injure his own shoulder, according to Lopez.
Osceola County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the apartment complex after an animal complaint was filed. The apartment management provided access to the surveillance video, leading deputies to identify Zuluaga as the suspect. Deputies contacted Zuluaga’s cousin, who confirmed his identity, and investigators later visually confirmed Zuluaga and Lilly as the individuals in the video.
Zuluaga admitted to deputies that he committed the act because Lilly had urinated and defecated on the apartment rug. He was arrested without incident and charged with animal cruelty, a violation of Florida Statute 828.12-2.
Lilly, who sustained a dilated pupil in her left eye and deep tissue bruising on her underbelly, was taken to Osceola County Animal Control and treated by a veterinarian. Sheriff Lopez confirmed that Lilly is expected to make a full recovery and will be placed up for adoption with a new owner.
“This incident breaks our hearts,” Lopez said. “Thanks to the swift actions of our deputies, Lilly is now safe and will have the chance to recover and find a loving home.”
The incident has sparked outrage in the community, with many expressing concern over animal cruelty cases and advocating for stricter penalties. Sheriff Lopez emphasized the importance of protecting animals, calling the treatment of Lilly “unacceptable” and vowing to hold offenders accountable.
Lilly’s adoption process will be managed through Osceola County Animal Control, and she is expected to find a new, loving home soon.
For more information on the case or to report similar incidents, contact the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office at (407) 348-2222.
