A dog found in poor condition on a balcony of a downtown Miami high-rise was rescued early Saturday after community concern spread on social media. Videos depicting the dog lying on the balcony of ParkLine Miami, along with reports from neighbors who had observed its distress for several days, prompted urgent action. The dog appeared thin, with waste visible on the balcony, raising alarms among residents.
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Miami-Dade County Animal Services, along with local police, identified the apartment where the dog was located and removed it around 1 a.m. During the operation, police arrested Kevin Alexander Benjamin, who has been charged with animal cruelty with intent to injure or kill, as confirmed by his jail records.
Catalina Balzano, who operates Bentley's Playhouse and the Fénix Animal Project, was among those who sought to locate the dog after seeing the troubling footage. She expressed a sense of urgency, stating that the dog looked like it was in dire condition. Balzano described the community response as overwhelming, noting that numerous people rallied online and came to the building to assist in the search.
Despite attempts to reach the apartment, police had difficulty contacting Benjamin. Eventually, around 1 a.m., Balzano recorded Animal Services personnel exiting the building with the rescued dog, which she described as heartbreakingly thin. Miami-Dade's protocols for handling animal cruelty reports highlight the need for immediate investigations when signs of neglect are reported, especially in cases involving pets in apartments.
The dog is now in Animal Services' care and receiving medical treatment. Balzano mentioned that various nonprofit organizations are collaborating with the agency to cover rehabilitation costs. She emphasized the importance of sharing the videos online, believing they helped unite the community in addressing the situation. The animal cruelty charge against Benjamin is currently pending as investigations continue.