'Evil and callous': Florida woman caught on camera beating dog with rubber mallet

TOWN 'N' COUNTRY, Fla. (CBS12) — A woman was arrested after deputies recovered video of her beating a dog with a rubber mallet.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) said dispatch received a call on Monday, reportingan animal cruelty incident at a home on Halifax Drive in Town 'N' County, near the Tampa area.

When deputies arrived, they were given surveillance footage of Elizabeth Jaimes, 24, holding a 9-year-old Siberian Husky "Maya" with a leash and repeatedly striking the dog with a rubber mallet on the head and torso.

**Warning: Video may be disturbing to some viewers, depicts animal abuse. Viewer discretion is advised.**

Investigators believe the abuse began as far back as October 2022. Since then, Maya has experienced numerous episodes of abuse, which have led to permanent damage. After being brought to the Veterinary Emergency Group, staff said Maya had multiple blunt-force head and back injuries, including spine and rib fractures, and was blind in one eye.

Jaimes was living in the home with her boyfriend and his mother, who are Maya's owner. The sheriff's office said they were starting to notice Maya was receiving injuries around August when Jaimes moved in and, at the request of her veterinarian, installed a hidden camera in her home to see what was happening to the dog.

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The sheriff's office saidJaimes admitted in an interview to hitting the dog because she had growled at her.

At this time, the sheriff's office saidMaya was reunited with her owner and is recovering at home. The owner has filed an injunction on Jaimes.

"Nothing would justify this evil and callous abuse. Maya is a sweet and loving animal who did not deserve the torture she endured," said Sheriff Chronister. "This is why our investigation is so important. We need to dive deeper and determine how far the abuse goes back. We are dedicated to investigating this case and ensuring that Jaimes will be held accountable for her heinous acts."

Jaimes was arrested on Monday and was later released on a $7,500 bond.

Sheriff Chronister also announced a petition on Thursday for enjoinment to prevent Jaimes from adopting or living with a pet in Hillsborough County. Sheriff Chronister and State Attorney Susan Lopez are pushing for this petition to be expanded statewide.