An HVAC technician has been arrested after he was caught kicking a homeowner’s dog by a dog-treat dispenser, according to the Sanford Police Department.

In a release, police said they were notified about the incident on Thursday after the Furbo dispenser captured what happened.

“The dispenser’s video was activated by the motion of the dog, and captured the small dog being kicked by the technician, then rendered unconscious for a significant period of time,” the release reads.

Afterward, the dog’s owner reported the incident to police, leading to the arrest of 43-year-old Richardson Noel. He now faces a charge of aggravated animal cruelty.

“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,” Police Chief Cecil Smith said. “The video is difficult to watch and shows the callousness of this individual.”

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE DOG’S OWNER

Ryan Menzies, the owner of the dog (nicknamed “Boomer”), told News 6 that the incident happened while he and his girlfriend were at work.

When she got a motion alert and checked the dispenser camera’s app, she saw Boomer having a seizure, Menzies said.

“She looked back in the video, and that’s when she called me back and said, ‘You need to get home now. He kicked the dog…’” he explained. “She started crying when she first saw it and then immediately went to her supervisor and said, ‘I need to leave.’”

According to Menzies, the vet didn’t find any broken bones, but there could be internal bruising.

THE COMPANY RESPONDS

After the incident came to light, ELDante HVAC Services — Noel’s employer at the time — apologized in a letter to Boomer’s family.

That apology letter reads as follows:

“We would like to offer our sincerest apologies for the distress one of our technicians caused your dog. As pet parents ourselves, the gravity of this situation has only deepened the sorrow we feel for the pain your beloved dog was unjustly subjected to.

While the technician has shared that his past experiences with dogs have been mainly negative, his actions at your residence were absolutely unacceptable and unnecessary. His behavior was completely inconsistent with the values and moral standards we expect from everyone representing our company.

We have taken this matter extremely seriously, and the technician responsible has been terminated from our company.

Please let us know if there is anything at all we can do to help ease the pain and distress caused by this incident. We are deeply sorry to you, your family, and your beloved dog.”

The company also noted that Noel was immediately fired after company officials reviewed the circumstances and available evidence.

“Criminal charges have also been pursued, and we are cooperating fully with the appropriate authorities regarding this matter,” a representative said.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help with Boomer’s veterinarian expenses.

Anyone with additional information about this incident is urged to contact police or Crimeline at (800) 423-8477.