Homeless Man Charged with Animal Cruelty After Tying & Kicking Small Dog Repeatedly
Photo: Manuel Pantoja
SANTA ANA – A Hispanic male was arrested on Sunday night for binding a small, brown dog up with wires and repeatedly kicking him.
The 13-year-old Chihuahua named Max escaped from his family’s yard on Sunday, March 3rd, after someone had failed to close the gate.
Max on the mend
Around 10:00 that evening, he was found behind the businesses located at 431 East First Street, along with suspect Jose Manuel Pantoja, a 28-year-old transient.
A witness reported to the Santa Ana Police Department that the man had tied the dog’s legs with wires and was kicking him over and over.
Once officers located Pantoja, they arrested him. Max the dog sustained multiple injuries and was taken to Orange County Emergency Pet Clinic for his wounds. “The suspect informed officers the dog did not belong to him and that it was just following him around and he did not know whose it was,” the release read. Pantoja was transported to SAPD Jail and charged with cruelty to animals.
Max the Chihuahua’s family had been extremely concerned about their furry family member, who had been with them ever since he was a puppy. They were all reunited with one another on Tuesday afternoon.
