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Dog shot with bb gun, beaten to death with hammer
Pasadena, CA (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011
County: Los Angeles
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Jung Song
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
In what local Humane Society officers called the worst case of animal abuse they've ever seen, a 40-year-old Pasadena man was booked Wednesday on suspicion of repeatedly beating a muzzled German shepherd while it was leashed to a fence.
Jung Song was arrested at his home on suspicion of felony animal cruelty in connection with the brutal attack on the 14-month-old dog, which was caught on videotape, officials said.
Song is due in court today for an arraignment. He was being held on $40,000 bail at the Pasadena City Jail, according to Pasadena police.
The beating was captured by a security camera the dog's owner mounted outside his home, said Ricky Whitman, Pasadena Humane Society spokeswoman, who viewed it. Attempts to reach the dog's owner Wednesday were unsuccessful.
"This is the worst animal cruelty case we have ever seen," Whitman said. "We have seen dogs hit with baseball bats in a moment of fury, but this was worse."
In the video, the suspect is seen scaling the back of his neighbor's home in the 1900 block of Navarro Avenue in Pasadena on April 20, shooting the shepherd with a pellet gun and beating the dog with a hammer it while it was leashed to a fence and muzzled, according to Whitman's description.
The dog went missing after the attack, Whitman said.
"It's a strong possibility that he killed the animal, and we have strong evidence that he knows about the whereabouts of the dog," she said. "It looks like he did something with the severely beaten animal, but we don't know where the dog is. We hope to find out soon."
Pasadena police and Humane Society officers served a search warrant Wednesday at Song's home.
"We found evidence, strong evidence, related to the case. But we are still investigating and do not want to release information on what was found in the house," said Lt. Nemesio Arteaga of the Humane Society.
One of Song's neighbors was "shocked" by Song's arrest, saying he is a husband and a father.
"He's a very nice and kind person," said Paul Lofthouse, who lives directly across the street from Song. "He must have snapped. He has three dogs of his own and chickens in the backyard. It's a total surprise."
Song, an animator at DreamWorks, is credited with working on films such as "Kung Fu Panda," "Shark Tale" and "Madagascar 2".
Case UpdatesA preliminary hearing for the 40-year-old Pasadena man accused of animal cruelty and dog theft Thursday was continued until June 28, according to court officials.
Young Song is accused in the April 20 beating of his neighbor's dog, described by the Pasadena Humane Society as the most brutal dog attack reported to the organization in its history.
The attack was captured on a security camera mounted on the dog owner's home.
In the video, Song appears to enter his neighbor's yard on April 20 and shoot the 14-month-old German shepherd puppy with a pellet gun. Song allegedly beat the dog to death with a hammer, then dragged the dog's body from the owner's yard.
Song pleaded not guilty in April to one felony count of animal cruelty and one count of misdemeanor petty theft of a dog - with a special allegation of personal use of a deadly weapon - for his reported involvement in the brutal beating of his next door neighbor's puppy, said Deputy District Attorney Alison Matsumoto in a statement.
If convicted, Song faces more than four years in state prison. | Source: pasadenastarnews.com - May 26, 2011
Update posted on May 26, 2011 - 10:27PM |
A DreamWorks animator pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of animal cruelty Thursday after allegedly beating a neighbor's 16-month-old German shepherd to death with a hammer.
Young Song, 40, allegedly scaled a fence to enter his neighbor's yard April 20, shot the dog with a pellet gun and then returned shortly after to beat the dog with a hammer. The animator faces an additional charge of misdemeanor petty theft for allegedly stealing the dog's body which has not yet been found.
Steve McNall, president and CEO of the Pasadena Humane Society and SPCA, said the brutal beating was caught on surveillance camera.
"In my 31 years, that is the worst I've ever seen," he said.
Authorities haven't released a motive for the alleged attack by the animator known for his animal friendly movies.
Song has worked for DreamWorks Animation on several films including "Shark Tale," "Bee Movie," "Kung Fu Panda" and "Madagascar 2," according to the LA Times.
A neighbor, Paul Lofthouse, reportedly expressed shock at the incident describing Song as "a very nice and kind person."
Song is being held on $40,000 bail and if convicted faces up to four years in prison, according to the District Attorney's Office. | Source: cbsnews.com - Apr 29, 2011
Update posted on Apr 29, 2011 - 6:30PM |
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