The Richmond Police Department has been at the center of a contentious issue involving a small dog after a video depicting possible abuse went viral on social media. The department has since transferred the investigation to Contra Costa Animal Services. The authorities had earlier checked on the dog's welfare and, despite public outcry, did not find the incident criminally actionable. They confirmed the dog was not injured and that the basic needs such as food, water, and shelter were being met, according to the Richmond Police Department.

The activist group The Pug Queen strongly disapproved of the police department's findings. They labeled the owner, allegedly named Julio, as "THE PUG ABUSER" and claimed the dog had been subject to repeated beatings. Their frustration was evident in a Facebook post, accusing the police of neglect for not removing the dog from the owner and plea to the public to pressure animal services in Contra Costa to rescue the pug. They implied that the pug's suffering has gone on for years and necessitates justice.

The Richmond Police Department has requested that the public refrain from flooding their dispatch center with calls regarding this incident, noting that the volume could hinder the dispatchers' ability to provide emergency medical services to those in need. They have encouraged those concerned about the dog's welfare to contact Contra Costa Animal Services directly.