This story depicts and links to a video that contains graphic violence; viewers should be advised.
Police are investigating after a violent video went viral, showing a man severely abusing a dog in Long Beach.
A nonprofit called Animal Hope and Wellness posted the graphic surveillance footage on Instagram, saying it was recorded around 5:36 a.m. on Monday outside of 235 E. 12th Street.
“The man in this video is severely abusing this poor pup without mercy and needs to be found asap,” reads the caption. “All we can tell is that the man has a skateboard, and so the other skaters in the area may be able to identify who this is.”
The footage shows a man on a skateboard lifting a medium-sized brown dog off the ground by the leash, yanking it over his shoulder and bodyslamming it to the ground.
Once the dog is on the ground, the man continues to drag the dog before kicking it in the face.
Then, the man is seen again grabbing the dog’s leash to hoist the animal up toward his back shoulder – a similar motion to carrying a bag over one’s shoulder – and walks out of the camera frame with the abused dog hanging behind his back.
PETA announced it’s offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the man’s arrest, as well as information that leads to the whereabouts of the dog.
“Dogs rely on us to keep them safe, and this dog suffered a violent attack that utterly betrayed that trust – and who knows what abuse he or she has suffered that hasn’t been caught on camera,” said PETA Senior Vice President Colleen O’Brien. “This dog will be in danger as long as he or she remains in this abuser’s clutches, and PETA urges anyone who recognizes the man in this video to come forward immediately—it could save this dog’s life.”
The Long Beach Police Department said that it’s aware of the video and that its department is investigating, but did not say whether any arrests have been made or if the dog has been found.
“Patrol officers have responded to the area and taken an animal cruelty report, as the incident had not been previously reported to the department,” LBPD said in an X post on Monday afternoon. “Animal abuse is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our community.”
The department also said that Long Beach Animal Care Services is actively investigating to ensure the welfare of the animal involved. To contact animal services, call 562-570-7387.
LBPD said the investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact non-emergency dispatch at 562-435-6711.
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