Man Filmed Beating Puppy Faces Cruelty Charges: Westchester SPCA

YONKERS, NY — A dog owner captured on cell phone footage that appears to show him beating an 8-month-old puppy, has been arrested on animal cruelty charges, according to the SPCA.

The SPCA of Westchester announced on Wednesday that the Humane Law Enforcement Unit (HLE) arrested James Lucas III in a joint investigation with the Yonkers Police Department. The Yonkers man is charged with animal cruelty.

The Yonkers Police Department contacted the SPCA on April 12, in response to reports that a pit bull was violently beaten by his owner on the top level of a parking garage at 8 Buena Vista Ave. A two-minute-long video recording of the incident captured by witnesses in a nearby building appears to show Lucas violently punching his pit bull mix named Zeus.

Zeus was treated at a veterinary hospital, but was not seriously injured in what appeared to be a brutal beating.

“By some miracle, Zeus didn’t sustain any serious injuries, but this is still a serious and horrific act of animal cruelty,” SPCA of Westchester Executive Director Shannon Laukhuf said. “We’re very thankful to those individuals who reported the incident so that the SPCA’s Humane Law Enforcement officers could respond quickly, ensuring Zeus’s rescue and the subsequent arrest of his owner.”

A video incident provided by the SPCA of Westchester can be viewed here. Warning: the linked video is disturbing to watch.

Anyone who suspects animal cruelty or neglect of an animal is urged call the police or the SPCA of Westchester’s Confidential Animal Cruelty Hotline at 914-941-7797.