HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – A puppy that was violently attacked is being cared for at VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital.
According to police, the dog was mauled by several others in the backyard of a home located along the 1500 block of Coolidge Street in Hollywood.
Police said a call came in from a neighbor reporting the dogs fighting. The violent and disturbing incident was caught on camera.
Police said at first, the dog’s owner, who, according to the property owner, is in the process being evicted, told officers he was going to take his dog to the veterinarian.
But two days later, when an officer returned for a welfare check on the pup, the owner was not there and the dog did not appear to be treated.
The pup was transported to VCA Hollywood and code enforcement issued the dog’s owner violations for failing to provide medical care as well as proof of rabies vaccination.
Detectives, meanwhile, are investigating to see if criminal charges will be added, and the city has filed a petition to remove the puppy from the owner’s custody and transfer it to the rescue group Paws2Care Coalition Inc.
The rescue is seeking donations to cover the vet bills.
In email correspondence with Local 10 News, the dog’s owner said he was out of town when the attack occurred and pointed the finger at neighbors, who he said could have stopped the attack instead of calling the police.
Police have said that no charges have been filed but an investigation is ongoing.