Animal abuse: Be smart, but don't lose your anger

My first column of 2025 isn’t anything to ring in a new year with. During the past couple of weeks, a nasty, hollow-souled incident of pet abuse has gotten the pet-advocacy community’s hackles up big time. The incident is under investigation by the Long Beach Police Department and Long Beach Animal Care Services.

I’ve covered a few situations of animal abuse since I first started writing pet columns, about 12 years ago, but even though they’re just a handful, they feel like a handful of broken glass. It’s hard enough to experience animal abuse in fiction — I once tossed a book by Joe R. Landsdale in the garbage after I was halfway through it, and I generally like Joe R. Landsdale. Before I see a film, I check Does a dog die? Does a cat die?, which lists triggers of all types.

The incident I referred to involved a video of a woman grabbing a little dog by the collar — on Christmas Day, for crying out loud — and viciously throwing her toward a fence. The video went viral on social media and produced enough outrage for FOX 11 to cover it.

“The LBPD began investigating the incident when a reporting party located video footage showing dogs being abused and filed a police report,” LBPD spokesperson Eric Stachura said. “Long Beach Animal Care Services is investigating to ensure the welfare of animals while the LBPD is conducting the criminal investigation.”

Watchdog reporter Fernando Haro also reported the incident. In brief, the owner of two dogs, a pit bull named Harmony and a little terrier mix called Biscuit, died, and his daughter took in the dogs to care for them and find them homes. On Christmas morning, the daughter had to leave the house briefly and left the dogs in the care of friends, whom she apparently trusted.

After the videotaping of the abuserthrowing the dog, someone contacted LBACS, and the dogs were picked up and taken to the shelter. There, they received veterinary care — Harmony was treated for a skin condition. The shelter subsequently released the dogs to the daughter, which brought forth more concern on social media.

“There was no reasonable suspicion to believe that the [owner’s daughter] was involved in the abuse,” said Dr. Melanie Wagner, LBACS’ bureau manager.

Wagner said that the daughter is working with animal control officers to get medical care for Harmony’s skin condition. The officers are also conducting wellness checks.

Haro’s report includes the video, and no, I haven’t watched it. But the many social media posts let me know I didn’t need to watch it to see how terrible it was, so be warned. One of the posts had 224 comments, most of them expressing fury.

“I made the mistake of watching that video earlier today and it made me so sick. This person is horrible,” one post read.

I share the anger — writing a column instead of a news report makes me feel free to do so. Any violence or torment directed at helpless, vulnerable creatures, be they animals, children, senior citizens or domestic partners, is contemptible, and you might wonder why anyone would do such a thing.

“There’s no singular reason for why people abuse animals,” Wagner said. “They range from the less-common culprit of psychopathic tendencies to the more common: cycle of violence — someone grew up in a home and saw this behavior. Drug addiction can cause this behavior as well.”

Citing a USA Today article, Shelter Animals Count estimates that 10 million animals die every year from abuse or cruelty in the United States, and that’s just the ones that are reported. The California Penal Code, cited here on LBACS’ abuse page, applies to all types of abuse from neglect to “the malicious and intentional maiming, mutilating, torture, wounding or killing of an animal,” which is what the video showed by all reports. Penalties include fines from $250 to $50,000 and terms in county jail or prison, depending on the severity of the abuse.

If you witness or suspect abuse or neglect

Both LBACS and spcaLA, which share the PD Pitchford Companion Animal Village campus, include detailed pages about animal abuse on their websites. Call 562-570-7387 at LBACS and use this form for spcaLA. Access the links on their names for information, such as animal laws and signs of abuse. Many people know it when they see it.

SpcaLA has advice that is worth noting. One tidbit is to stay off social media, which both you and I know is next to impossible. Besides, if it hadn’t been for social media, the news would probably never have aired the abuse. But they do offer some wisdom about social media use. Posting to a public page can put you in danger, since everyone can see who you are, including the suspect. Furthermore, when criminal investigations are taking place, the investigation can be compromised if you give the suspect warning.

Also, no matter how vengeful you feel, don’t act on it. A fellow angry animal lover shared this IG link — if you can’t access it, it shows a clip of Bette Davis stirring a drink, with the superimposed phrase “Sometimes you have to just let karma fix it because if you fix it, you’re going to jail.” Karma takes its own sweet time, and that’s not fast enough for some of us.

But I have to agree: listen to Bette. We can’t lose decent people like you.

I have my own two cents: Separate facts from speculation and hearsay. Ask questions of the right people, and consider the answers. Understand that there are some answers that can’t be given — yet. As the case stands now, both the LBPD and LBACS are limited as to how much information they can disclose about the dogs, and that goes for any case.

Most of all, be loud and proactively involved, and don’t lose that anger. That’s what keeps things moving.

YOURS DROOLY

Like anyone, every pet in a shelter or rescue has their individual story. Each of these three dogs was taken from some sort of suspected abuse or neglect and transported to Long Beach Animal Care Services, where they’ll get attention, food, treats and playtime from the volunteers and staff. Like most dogs from similar sad situations, they’re baffled by all the attention at first, but in due time, they realize that they’re loved.

Being cooped up in a kennel for hours can eclipse the progress they make. Our shelter is overcrowded. If you can make room in your home and heart for someone who’ll be your best buddy forever, or even foster one for a while, email PetAdopt@longbeach.gov or call 562-570-7387. Better yet, pay a visit to LBACS, 7700 E. Spring St. (at the entrance to El Dorado Park, no parking fee for shelter visitors), Long Beach. More information is available here.

Senior shepherd Thor (ID# A73428) came in as a possible cruelty case. Animal control officers had heard reports of a possibly abused dog — incidents of people yelling at the dog to be quiet, followed by cries and yelps of pain and distress. He had some medical issues, which his owners admitted were not being treated at the vet because of lack of funds. Eventually, they surrendered Thor to the shelter, where he’s now waiting for his forever home. He’s 8 years old and truly deserves real golden years. He’s so beautiful!

Glitter (ID#A733967), a 4-year-old pittie/terrier mix, was so named because she came to the shelter with a bedazzled pink color. That was all about her that was glittering — she was covered in fleas and ticks, her paws were swollen, she had multiple lacerations on her face that she could have gotten in several ways: escaping from a fence or a cage, an altercation with another dog or cat — no telling. Glitter is very shy and a little timid, but who wouldn’t be after what she’s been through? With the love and attention from shelter staff and volunteers, she’ll regain her trust, and she’ll be ready for someone like you to take over.

While most lucky children were nestled all snug in their beds, 9-month-old Rutger (ID#A734943) was spending his Christmas Eve confined in a crate on a busy street near the Interstate 710. Lucky for Rutger, animal control officers brought him to the shelter, where staff and volunteers made up for all the Christmas good he missed out on. Rutger is a lovely mix of German shepherd and husky and has years of good things ahead. Maybe he’ll spend next Christmas snug in your house!

TAIL-WAGGIN' AND NOSE-BOOPIN' EVENTS

Long Beach TNR and Community Cat Coalition January meeting

Do you conduct TNR (trap/spay-neuter-vaccinate-microchip-release of stray cats) with a passion and want to share resources with and get support from an equally engaged community? Are momcats having kittens in your neighborhood, and are dadcats yowling at them to make more? Are you on your last shred of yarn trying to figure out what you can do?

Get some answers at this grassroots meeting, the first in Long Beach to focus on combining forces to humanely stop the birthing of unwanted kittens in the urban wild. Includes demonstrations from rescues, experienced trappers, and LBACS cat coordinator Lindsie Merrick.

The Coalition meeting takes place Saturday, Jan. 4, 10 a.m.–noon (approximately) at the Education Center at Long Beach Animal Care Services, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, at the entrance to El Dorado Park. No parking fee for shelter guests.

Low-Cost Vaccine Clinics at Long Beach Animal Care Services

Make a new year’s resolution to keep your pet healthy! Veterinary visits can be expensive, so Long Beach Animal Care Services and Community Animal Medicine Project (CAMP) have teamed up to provide humans and their furry companions with low-cost vaccines. Anyone, regardless of whether you live in Long Beach, is welcome. No appointment is necessary, but get there early because the clinic is open to the first 60 pets. All dogs must be on a leash, and all cats must be in carriers. Please bring your pet’s previous vaccine records. Price list and types of vaccines are available here.

The low-cost vaccine clinics take place Mondays and alternate Fridays, 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Long Beach Animal Care Services, 7700 E. Spring St. (at entrance to El Dorado Park), Long Beach. No parking fee for shelter visitors. The full calendar for clinics is available here.

Feline Good Social Club has a session of every stripe, solid and patch!

Start the year off with a healthy dose of kitty! At the Feline Good Social Club, you can do yoga practice as little paws tiptoe over, under and around you; crochet with an instructor and practice keeping curious cats away from the yarn; bask in a sound bath that’s second only to ambient purring, or just spend a session patting and playing with the residents, all of whom are adoptable. Session information is available here.

Feline Good Social Club is located at 301 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach. Hours and phone information are on website.

Need a low-cost veterinarian, information about trapping community cats, places to volunteer, rescues and shelters to adopt from — anything pet related? Follow this link for resources. Please add your own ideas in the Comments section.