Man convicted in animal cruelty case that inspired 'Dexter's Law' granted bond during appeal

CLEARWATER, Fla. - A Pinellas County judge granted bond Wednesday for the man convicted of killing and dumping a rescue dog days after adopting him, as he appeals his conviction.

Case against Domingo Rodriguez

The backstory:

Domingo Rodriguez adopted a 4-year-old bulldog mix, Dexter, from Pinellas County Animal Services in May 2024. Four days later, deputies found the dog decapitated in a plastic bag floating in the mangroves of East Beach in Fort De Soto.

In February 2025, a jury found Rodriguez guilty of aggravated cruelty to animals and unlawful disposal of bodies of dead animals, two misdemeanors. Judge Keith Meyer sentenced him to one year and 60 days in jail, which is the maximum sentence allowed by law.

In March, Rodriguez’s attorney filed a notice of appeal, and in May, his attorney filed a motion for bond pending appeal, arguing that Rodriguez has no prior criminal history. The judge heard arguments at a bond hearing last month.

On Wednesday, the judge granted $55,000 bond for Rodriguez. If he bonds out, he must wear a GPS monitor, surrender his driver's license and passport, have no contact with any animals or witnesses in his case and appear in court each month during the appeals process.

"This was a difficult matter the court had to consider," Judge Meyer said Wednesday.

Reading a five-page order, Meyer told the courtroom while he strongly disagrees with Rodriguez’s characterization that this was a nonviolent crime, he had to use case law in his decision.

What they're saying:

"The evidence at trial demonstrated that the canine victim, Dexter, was slaughtered and his body decapitated, mutilated, and disposed of in an extremely violent manner with no apparent motive," Judge Meyer said.

"The violence committed by the defendant is found by the jury, and his brutal killing of Dexter was the reason this court imposed the statutory maximum sentence permitted by law at the time of defendant's conviction. Nevertheless, while a trial court has discretion to grant or deny a supersedeas bond, the discretion must be exercised within the guidelines established by case law and adopted by court rule. In other words, we must, as always, follow the law," he said.

Judge Meyer said Rodriguez met all of the requirements for this bond request when it comes to the law, including that his appeal is in good faith.

"Under these circumstances, which have not been refuted or otherwise challenged by the state, the court has no choice but to allow the defendant a reasonable bond pending appeal," he said.

In this decision, Meyer said he weighed that Rodriguez is in his mid-60s, has no criminal history and has ties to the community.

"I was extremely sad," animal advocate Elizabeth Olson, who packed the courtroom Wednesday with several others in support of Dexter, said. "I know everyone was very disappointed. We were hurt because, you know, what Dexter went through, this man doesn't deserve to be on the street. He deserves to be in jail like he was convicted, and that's just why it was upsetting. But I do understand, as I mentioned, that the court did go by rulings prior, and that he has to follow the law," Olson, of the Animal Justice Taskforce, said.

Rodriguez waved to his family in the courtroom as he was led out at the end of the hearing. His attorney, Victor L. Zamora Jr., said Wednesday’s decision is refreshing and he said Rodriguez’s family is happy. Zamora said he hopes the community understands that he has a lot of conditions on his release.

Dig deeper:

The case outraged animal activists and led Florida lawmakers to pass Dexter's Law, which increases punishment for especially heinous animal cruelty cases, and establishes an offender database on the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's website.

Those in the database will be banned from owning, living with or working with an animal.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Dexter's Law in May.

RELATED: Gov. DeSantis signs Dexter's Law, Trooper's Law targeting animal abuse

What's next:

Rodriguez is due back in court on Aug. 13.