A Venice man has been arrested after he allegedly beat a dog to death with a shovel over the weekend.
Police say Aaron Merwine committed the crime outside the home he shares with his father.
The chihuahua belonged to two other people who had initially adopted he dog from Merwine’s family.
Merwine’s father said his son had been having mental health issues, and had him sent for a mental health evaluation under the Baker Act late last year.