Injured Pembroke Pines dog moves to hospice rescue care
Nico, a 13-year-old German shepherd in a Pembroke Pines cruelty case, was moved to hospice care as felony charges and a $12,000 bond followed his arrest.
Nico, the 13-year-old German shepherd at the center of a Pembroke Pines animal cruelty case, has been moved from Broward County Animal Care to Healy Pack Senior GSD Sanctuary, where he will receive hospice care. The transfer came after county officials determined Nico’s prognosis was guarded and that he needed specialized care beyond what the shelter could provide.
Healy Pack Senior GSD Sanctuary focuses on senior German shepherds and reached an agreement with Broward County Animal Care and the Miami Coalition Against Breed Specific Legislation to take Nico in. The dog will be monitored by the sanctuary’s veterinary team and a foster family, with continued evaluations and treatment built into his placement.
Pembroke Pines police said a surveillance video showed 60-year-old Humberto Exposito throwing Nico from the back of a box truck while making a delivery to Sedano’s supermarket in the 10300 block of Pines Boulevard. The delivery was completed and the dog was left behind without food, water or shelter. The incident happened on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, and Exposito was booked into Broward Main Jail on June 25, 2026.
Broward County Animal Care determined Nico was malnourished, had matted hair, and was suffering from serious medical problems that included traumatic injuries, tumors, advanced hip dysplasia and difficulty walking. He could not walk when he was found. Bond court set Exposito’s bond at $12,000 on June 26, 2026, and a judge ordered him not to own or possess animals while the case moves forward.
Exposito faces charges of aggravated animal cruelty, animal abandonment and confining an animal without sufficient air exchange. Florida’s aggravated animal cruelty law is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000, while abandoning a maimed, sick, infirm or diseased animal is a first-degree misdemeanor.
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