A husky known as “Sweetie” was placed in police custody in Merced, California, following multiple reports of her being mistreated by a homeless man dating back to last year.
One local resident shared with ABC30 Action News that she saw a homeless man dragging Sweetie along a hot sidewalk while he cycled by.
Additionally, the president of the Merced SPCA claimed to have seen the same man lift Sweetie by her neck and slam her down onto the ground.
The Merced Police are currently looking into potential animal cruelty charges related to this case.
Images of Sweetie in distress have been making the rounds online, showing her struggling with a hard muzzle.
A video has surfaced depicting the man pulling Sweetie by her chest, which led to her screaming.
Authorities noted that Merced police have been gathering evidence concerning Sweetie’s alleged abuse and neglect, which they plan to present to the Merced County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors will decide whether to file criminal charges based on the evidence.
Merced Police Lieutenant Calvin Haygood mentioned that the department is also examining another alleged dog abuse incident that took place on August 7 near a Taco Bell.
This incident occurred just a day after police had taken Sweetie to a veterinarian for an evaluation, after which it was concluded she was healthy enough to return to her owner.
Yet, following the Taco Bell incident, Sweetie was taken into custody once more.
This decision has been positively received by residents of Merced, many of whom expressed their support for the action taken on behalf of the husky.
Some residents felt the investigation was taking too long to resolve. “These cases require time to build evidence, and we hope someone comes forward with what we need,” Haygood told ABC30.
