- December 17, 2025
A puppy named Ponce, who was brutally beaten and killed, now has a statue placed in the Ponce Inlet Happy Tails Dog Park to remember his life and other abused animals.
The statue was erected in the park on Thursday, Nov. 10., and is inscribed with the words, "In loving memory of Ponce April 8, 2017 and with great compassion for all animals who suffer abuse."
The 9-month-old Labrador retriever was beaten and killed in April 2017. Travis Archer was charged with a third-degree felony in the incident, which made national headlines.
Because of this incident, House Bill 473, filed on Friday, Oct. 27, is now making its way through the legislative process to possibly become law. The bill was given the name "Ponce's Law" and would enact harsher punishment for individuals who abuse animals.
The Justice for Ponce organization has received thousands of signatures on a petition to enforce harsher punishment for animal cruelty.
