Elderly dog abused, abandoned near Pembroke Pines supermarket now in hospice care

A 13-year-old German shepherd named Nico was discovered injured and abandoned outside Sedano’s Supermarket at 10333 Pines Blvd. in Pembroke Pines after surveillance video showed a man tossing the dog from the back of a box truck during a delivery on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 24. Responders found Nico matted, underweight and struggling to move; officers also noted signs consistent with hip dysplasia amid other serious injuries. Pembroke Pines Police located and arrested 60-year-old Humberto Exposito the next day. He was booked into Broward Main Jail on charges that include a third-degree felony for aggravated animal cruelty plus misdemeanors for abandonment and confining an animal without sufficient air exchange. Exposito was released on a $10,000 bond on June 29. The department chose not to publish the surveillance video because of its graphic content. Veterinarians with Broward County Animal Care examined Nico and reported traumatic injuries, tumors and difficulty walking. Given the dog’s age, condition and need for specialized attention, the county arranged a transfer to a breed-focused hospice program. On Tuesday, June 30, Nico was released to Healy Pack Senior GSD Sanctuary in Inverness so staff there could continue the medical work started in Broward and provide ongoing support. Healy Pack has taken Nico into hospice with an emphasis on comfort, dignity and preserving his quality of life rather than aggressive curative measures. Sanctuary leaders say they will continue veterinary evaluations and treatments while making sure Nico is never again left alone or without people advocating for him. The transfer reflects a deliberate choice to match Nico’s needs to a facility experienced with senior German shepherds. Healy Pack Senior GSD Sanctuary was founded in 2019 by Linda Healy to rescue older German shepherds from high-kill shelters in Texas and Florida. The nonprofit provides foster placements, adoption services, medical care, quality food and supplements, and keeps dogs that cannot be rehomed as long-term sanctuary residents rather than euthanizing for space. For more information or to learn how to help, visit the Healy Pack Senior GSD Sanctuary website.