A tipster will be getting a $5,000 reward from PETA for providing information that helped lead to the arrest of a man authorities say was caught on video slamming his puppy to the ground by her leash, kicking her as she lay motionless and then dragging her away in an attack in Long Beach, the animal welfare organization announced Thursday.
“It just takes one kind person to crack a cruelty case, and by coming forward, this tipster saved this dog from further abuse and gave her the bright future she deserves,” Lisa Lange, senior vice president for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), said in a statement Thursday.
“PETA encourages everyone to follow this person’s shining example and never be silent in the face of cruelty to animals.”
Alexander Cueva, 28, of Westminster, pleaded no contest May 7 to a felony animal cruelty charge and was sentenced to three years in state prison and banned from possessing animals for 10 years.
Cueva hoisted his 6- to 8-month-old German Shepherd mix by the neck with a leash early April 21, slammed her to the pavement and kicked her in the face before suspending the dog again and riding away on a skateboard, dragging her out of frame, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
The Long Beach Police Department said the attack — which was captured on video footage that was shared widely on social media — occurred at 235 E. 12th St., near Anaheim Street.
Shortly before 8:30 p.m. April 22, detectives located Cueva in the 800 block of Pine Avenue and took him to the city jail, where he was booked on suspicion of felony intentional cruelty to an animal, according to police.
Cueva has remained behind bars since his arrest.
The puppy was placed in the care of Long Beach Animal Care Services, which issued a statement last month saying that the animal “is currently energetic, bright and responsive.”
“She sustained some injuries consistent with suspected trauma, but is expected to heal with time and care,” according to the Animal Care Services agency.
The puppy has been re-named Rue and reportedly is thriving in foster care, according to PETA.
“She is recovering from her injuries, enjoying walks and rolls in the grass, and learning to trust kind people,” PETA said.
Long Beach Animal Care Services noted that there have been reports about possible scams being orchestrated through GoFundMe pages by people claiming to have the dog in their care. Animal Care officials said anyone who would like to donate can do so through the agency’s website at bit.ly/LBACSdonate.
“This felony conviction and prison sentence send the important message that animal cruelty will not be tolerated in our community,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement following Cueva’s plea.
Hochman added that his office is “unwavering in its commitment to protecting the most vulnerable, including defenseless animals.”