This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.

A man in Florida who stole a small alligator from a miniature golf course, slammed the terrified animal into the ground by the tail, and also tried to throw the poor creature onto the roof of a building was arrested. Horrifyingly, we learned that the charges against William Hodge were dismissed on July 23, 2021, but the cause for dismissal was not revealed to us. We can't sit idly by while animal abusers are allowed to destroy lives without consequence.

William Hodge was arrested on July 15, after he was seen stomping on the alligator, and repeatedly attempting to throw the terrified animal onto the roof of a bar. When authorities questioned Hodge about why he was violently abusing the alligator, he said he was trying to “teach it a lesson.”

As disturbing as is the abuse that this alligator sustained, it is equally disturbing that the miniature golf parks in Florida that keep small water canals throughout their parks in order to display alligators to give their patrons thrills expose them to possible abuses. It's clear that there's a peril for the alligators when patrons can drop items in their water, molest them, or, as in this case, steal them.

Hodge was charged with animal cruelty, alligator poaching, burglary, criminal mischief, and petty theft, and his bond was set at $4,500. Hodge did not bond out.

Help In Defense of Animals in seeking not just convictions for animal abusers, but also treatment for mental health or substance abuse issues, which may have been a factor in this case. It's imperative that when people commit random and bizarre violent crimes against people and other animals that we look to the reasons that they do so or our criminal “justice” system fails them and society.

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.