Costa Mesa police are investigating a video that has gone viral showing a dog walker dragging a canine along the pavement in front of an animal rescue center.
An apparent dog walker is seen in the video dragging the limp dog on its side by a leash in front of the Priceless Pets no-kill pet rescue.
The incident was reported to Costa Mesa police on Thursday, May 29, said Roxi Fyad, a spokeswoman for the Costa Mesa Police Department.
Priceless Pets posted a statement on social media calling it a “deeply troubling incident.” The shelter asked whoever took the video in front of the Costa Mesa adoption center to provide the full video.
“Having the complete context is critical to ensure a thorough and just response for all parties involved, most importantly for the animals in our care,” the center said in the post.
The dog walker’s “behavior is absolutely unacceptable and stands in direct opposition to everything our organization represents,” the center said.
It added, “We are heartbroken by what has occurred and want to emphasize that this does not reflect our values or the level of care we demand from our team and volunteers.”