In November 2023, Deputy Nicholas Zotto was terminated after videos surfaced showing him abusing a dog named Grizzly at his pet-sitting business, Pawsome Sitters, in Manatee County. The videos depicted Zotto hitting and dragging the dog. He was subsequently charged with first-degree misdemeanor animal cruelty and cited for civil ordinance violations related to his business operations. Zotto had been with the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office since April 2022.
[Return to blog post](https://watchaudits.com/nicholas-zotto-hardee-county-sheriffs-office/)
.
