A 23-year-old man has been arrested after he was pursued by a neighbor who saw him beating his dog. City of Carlsbad, New Mexico Code Enforcement Officer Clinton “Doc” West saw the man beating the dog inside of a van parked near his home, and followed the man to keep him from getting away.
West was at his home when he heard a dog’s cries. When he looked around, he saw a man, later identified as Kerry Diamond, repeatedly punching a dog. He continued to batter the dog until it went silent. West thought the poor dog was dead. Diamond left the van to rinse his hands under a sprinkler, then returned and drove off.
West called police and trailed the man in his own vehicle. Diamond was quickly stopped by police, who were told that the dog sustained injuries from a cat. Officer Matthew Langlitz told the man he did not believe a cat could do that much damage to a dog.
Diamond replied, “Well, it was a big cat.”
Officers weren’t buying it, and held him in a patrol car. Animal Control Officer Michelle Boudrie said she believed the dog, possibly a blue heeler-pit bull mix, might have a concussion or a broken jaw based on the substantial swelling around his head. He was rushed to Animal Care Center after Diamond signed a Consent to Search and Seizure form.
Dr. Blake Murray took X-rays of the dog, and drained blood from a hematoma on his head. The vet reported that the dog did not have a concussion, but with a few more blows he likely would have been killed. He confirmed that the injuries were “definitely due” to blunt force trauma to the head.
“The dog was such a sweet boy even after being savagely beaten, and we hope that he finds a new, loving home,” Murray said.
Diamond was arrested and charged with extreme cruelty to animals.
