VERO BEACH — A disturbing incident caught on video has landed a Vero Beach man in hot water with the law after he was recorded kicking a small white dog, sparking outrage in a quiet community.
The incident occurred at the 1400 block of 90th Avenue in Vero Beach on February 28. A warrant was issued for the arrest of Cody Scott Worley-Oaks, 38, on charges of aggravated animal cruelty, a third-degree felony under Florida law.
The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office received footage from a woman shouting, “Did you just kick my dog?” Moments later, a man in the video, identified as Worley-Oaks, delivers a forceful kick to the side of a senior Maltese mix named Romeo, sending the dog tumbling across the pavement with a pained yelp.
A neighbor told deputies she heard the commotion from her home. She recounted how Worley-Oaks was pacing erratically in the street that evening around 5:30 p.m. as a young girl, the daughter of Romeo’s owner, was walking the dog nearby.
The neighbor told deputies that Worley-Oaks’ odd behavior spooked the young girl, causing her to drop the leash and retreat home. Romeo, a calm and elderly puppy recently adopted, trailed alongside Worley-Oaks with his leash dragging. That’s when the neighbor started recording.
She confronted Worley-Oaks after he kicked the dog the first time. In response, he turned, and unleashed a vicious kick that sent Romeo airborne, landing onto the concrete.
The young girl, who also saw the attack, was left crying and distraught, while the dog’s owner later confirmed the animal hasn’t been the same since.
Deputies visited the scene on March 4, speaking with the neighbor, and agreed to provide a witness statement detailing the trauma inflicted on his family’s pet. Two witnesses described a scene of unnecessary cruelty, with the dog now showing signs of distress days after the incident.
The sheriff’s office then tried to track down Worley-Oaks at his residence but got no answer. A notice was left for him to contact authorities, though he has yet to respond.
Worley-Oaks is currently being held at the Indian River County Jail on a $15,500 bond.
Based on the video and witness testimonies, deputies determined that Worley-Oaks’ actions caused “unnecessary pain and suffering” to Romeo, violating Florida Statute 828.12(2). The statute classifies such aggravated animal cruelty as a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both.
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