Cops: Bronx Man Beats Dog With Fists, Shovel Then Buries It In Snow

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Hennessy the dog has a guardian angel.

A Bronx resident spotted a man attacking a the 6-month-old dog with a shovel and his fists early Friday morning.

The incident took place at around 4 a.m. at East 167th Street near Rev. James A. Polite Avenue and Hall Place.

The suspect then buried the dog in snow until only her snout was visible, police said.

As 1010 WINS' Al Jones reported, the person who called 911 reported having has heard the dog being beaten before.

The man who witnessed the attack recorded the incident on his phone, sources told CBS2.

When police arrived, he showed them the video, sources said.

Police said they found Hennessy and dug her out of the snow. She was taken to the ASPCA for treatment.

"We applaud the brave citizens who witnessed this barbaric act and called the NYPD," said Howard Lawrence, senior director, ASPCA Anti-Cruelty Group. "We encourage anyone who witnesses an animal crime in progress in NYC to please call 911 immediately. You may be saving that animal's life."

Neighbors were quick to volunteer ideas for punishment for anyone guilty of beating an animal, Jones reported.

"Anybody that beat a dog should get beat down with something, and if he's beating animals and doing what he's doing, somebody needs to beat him as well too – that's what I think," one neighbor said.

"I have no patience for people that do things like that to an animal," another said.

Police were able to track the man down.

Raul Cruz, 43, was arrested and charged with animal cruelty.

In:
• The Bronx