A 23-year-old man, Gerald Allen Young II, has been taken into custody in southwest Houston after video footage showed him abusing a 9-month-old Labrador puppy at an apartment complex on the 2600 block of Gramercy Street. He faces two felony counts of cruelty to a non-livestock animal by means of torture, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
The video analyzed by CW39, shows Young punching the puppy and throwing it down a hallway, while Click2Houston reported additional abuse, including kicking the dog and slamming it into concrete. Authorities are pursuing charges based on the recorded incidents.
A puppy with three fractured ribs and a pneumothorax is receiving care from the Houston SPCA and is reported to be in stable condition. Dr. Roberta Westbrook, senior vice president of veterinary services at Houston SPCA, said, “This is a heartbreaking example of senseless cruelty,” and, “There is no doubt that filing a cruelty report saved this young dog’s life," as stated by CW39 and Click2Houston. A court hearing next week will determine the puppy’s future custody. The public can report suspected animal abuse or neglect to the Houston SPCA at 713-869-SPCA (7722) or through their online reporting platform.
