The manager of a bar in Whittier, California is speaking out after man violently punched her dog in the face and the incident was all caught on camera.
Kayla Maes shared the disturbing footage on the bar’s Instagram page. According to Abc7, the incident took place on Tuesday night near the back entrance of the Stein Bar on Washington Boulevard. In the footage you can see the dog peeking out of the entrance when the man suddenly punches the dog in the face. “He went flying literally from the front door all the way like maybe 3 or 4 feet to where the start of the bar is and he hit the bar,” she said.
According to the report, the dog whose name is Steven suffered a swollen black eye after getting hit by the man, but was given some medication and ice cream to help with the pain. Witnesses say the man returned to the bar an hour later but customers held him there until sheriff’s deputies arrived. “One of my regulars actually tackled him to the ground, he sat on top of him and I called the sheriff’s and said, ‘He’s here again. Hurry, please! Please!” Deputies with the Pico Rivera Sheriff’s Station took the suspect into custody. He was reportedly cited for animal abuse and has since been released.
“Everyone wants to know, ‘Where’s Steven? Is Steven okay?’ There was even a hashtag ‘Justice for Steven,'” said Whittier resident Laura Ramirez.
Maes hopes the suspect won’t return, but says Steven will soon be back at the Stein to greet his regulars. “He greets anybody that comes in and there’s so many people that message me, ‘Oh my God, I was driving by and I saw Steven in the door,’ so I feel like everybody in Whittier knows him now.”animal abuse laws in California are governed by several statutes within the California Penal Code and other related laws. However, please note that laws can change over time.
Animal abuse laws in California, specifically under Penal Code Section 597, cover a range of acts that involve cruelty and harm to animals, including dogs. If you were to punch a dog and cause harm, injury, or suffering, you could be charged with a crime under these laws.
The severity of the offense and potential penalties depend on various factors, including the extent of harm caused to the animal, your intent, and any prior criminal record. California’s animal abuse laws classify offenses into different categories, ranging from misdemeanors to felonies, with corresponding penalties that may include fines, probation, community service, and even imprisonment.