A 24-year-old Tampa man is facing charges after authorities say he repeatedly abused his pet pit bull.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, deputies received a complaint from Hillsborough County Animal Services about a person at a home in the 14000 block of Citrus Pointe Drive abusing a dog.
Deputies said between May 4 and June 23, Christopher Justin Mendez repeatedly abused his 3-year-old pit bull mix Spike. Officials said Mendez intentionally held the dog up by his neck and slammed it into a concrete floor. During another incident, Mendez threw a rock or a cement block at the dog, causing it to yelp.
After an investigation, authorities issued a felony warrant for Mendez on a cruelty to animals charge.
Mendez turned himself in to the Hillsborough County jail on July 4.
Animal services removed Spike, which suffered a head injury, from the Mendez's home. A 10-week-old pit bull puppy named Hennessy also was removed from the home.