An HVAC technician in Florida was arrested after footage recorded by a dog owner showed the man kicking their pet. In the clip, the man can be seen kicking the defenseless chihuahua in the face after it barked at him. The video has sparked outrage online, with viewers calling for the worker to be jailed or, at the very least, lose his job.
The worker was identified by Sandford Police as 43-year-old Richardson Noel, who was subsequently placed under arrest and charged with aggravated animal cruelty, reports the Independent.
According to investigators, the kick rendered the dog unconscious for “a significant period of time.” News4jax.com also reports that the 12-year-old chihuahua named Bommer had a seizure as a result of the kick.
The incident took place in Sandford on August 26, while Noel was working in the home and the residents were out. A motion-activated camera attached to the Furbo dog treat dispenser caught the HVAC worker entering the house through a sliding door as Boomer began barking at him. Noel then closed the door and kicked the small dog, knocking him unconscious. As the footage continues, Noel is seen repeatedly nudging the animal with his foot.
Boomer’s owner later saw the attack after watching the footage showing their chihuahua in distress and immediately contacted the police, which resulted in Noel’s arrest. Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith said, “It is deeply disturbing that someone entrusted with entering a person’s home to complete a service would violate that trust by viciously injuring a defenseless animal,” adding that the video showed Noel’s “callousness.”
Boomer was rushed to the vet
The elderly chihuahua survived the attack, and Boomer’s owners quickly rushed him to the vet once they realized what had happened. TikToker “ehbm6” reported that the vet had informed the owner that there were no broken bones, but there likely was internal bruising. One commenter asked if the HVAC company paid for the vet bills, while another said that the company was “100% responsible for whatever happens at the customer’s location.”
On X, others called for Richardson Noel to be punished. “I hope he’s fired at the very least,” one response reads. Another called for the “max sentence” to be thrown at the worker. Meanwhile, on Facebook, residents thank Sandford police for “taking this serious.”
There were a few who questioned why the owners weren’t present at the home while the HVAC technician was working there, with some suggesting the owner may have been partially to blame. One person said, “Why does anyone let a stranger into their home without [the] homeowner being present?” and others claimed the incident might have been avoided had Boomer’s owner been present. Regardless, most agreed that there was no excuse for Noel’s aggression whether the owner was there or not.
Published: Oct 5, 2026 06:12 am