NORTH MIAMI, FLA. (WSVN) - Animal services and authorities are investigating after a disturbing video on social media shows a man abusing a dog.
7News cameras captured a Miami-Dade County Animal Services van outside an apartment building located at Northeast 125th Street and Third Avenue in North Miami on Tuesday.
In the same building, a video posted by Only in Dade’s Instagram account, shows a man on his patio violently poking a caged dog with a mop stick. The man continues by punching the dog inside the residence.
Marcela and Marcos Salomon live in the same building where the abuse took place. They said they now don’t feel safe living among someone capable of hurting an animal.
“If anyone is capable to hurt an innocent animal that can’t defend itself, he’s not a good person either, so it’s dangerous to be his neighbor,” said Marcela.
The Salomons said they didn’t even want to see the video showing the disturbing abuse.
“He needs some help, some mental help,” said Marcela.
“There’s no excuse to do that to an animal, an innocent animal,” said Marcos.
On Wednesday, North Miami Police released a statement stating they are now investigating the matter.
We are working diligently to identify the person in the video and locate the dog to assess and properly document any injuries.
NMP
Police were seen Wednesday circling the apartment complex where the incident allegedly happened.
Gabriela Dominguez with Miami-Dade Animal Services said their mission continues to protect animals and advises the public to always call 911 if they witness animal abuse.
“Our mission is to protect animals from cruelty, and we don’t want to see any animal in that situation,” she said. “When someone witnesses an act of animal cruelty, the first thing they need to do is call 911, especially if it’s during the act of when it’s happening.”
Dominguez advises the public to wait before posting videos showing animal abuse on social media.
“A lot of people love to pull out their phones and record. We cannot do anything with a video, especially when it comes to court and prosecuting these people that are in these videos if the person isn’t willing to complete a witness affidavit and be a witness as part of the case,” she said.
On Sunday, Only in Dade posted another video on their Instagram account showing another man in South Miami-Dade holding a dog by its collar and slapping it multiple times with such force that it could be heard.
MDAS released an official statement Tuesday stating they are aware of the video from North Miami and giving information on how the public can properly report animal abuse.
Miami-Dade County Animal Services is aware of the new video showing an individual poking a pet who is locked in a cage on the balcony and has sent an animal welfare office to investigate.
Animal Services is dedicated to protecting our community’s animals and holding perpetrators of animal abuse accountable to the fullest extent of the law. But to do so, we need the community’s help.
If you see animal cruelty happening please call 911 immediately. If you can safely get evidence such as a video please do so and be ready to provide it to Police (911) and/or Animal Services (311). Authorities will need to see the animal as soon as possible to accurately assess and document the nature of the injuries.
Please note that in order to press charges or use a video in a court of law, the person who witnessed or recorded the incident will need to provide a witness affidavit authenticating the video and also may need to testify.
We must always remain vigilant, immediately report animal cruelty, and be the voice for our community’s animals. Together we can stop animal abuse.
Miami-Dade Animal Services
As of Wednesday afternoon, there is no word as to whether any charges have been filed and the dogs have not been removed from the home.
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