Quote:

That's pretty friggin impressive... Probably not one of the usual suspects at Animal Control.

Charge: He abused dog, hit officer
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
By CHARLES HACK
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Police collared a Jersey City resident who allegedly beat and strangled his white pit bull and ordered the dog to attack an animal control officer Friday night, police reports said.

Mauricio Castro, 27, of Columbia Avenue, was charged with animal cruelty and simple assault, reports said.

Responding to a call about someone beating a dog shortly after 10:40 p.m., a 51-year-old Jersey City animal control officer arrived near Leonard Street and Summit Avenue and saw Castro cross the street with a white pit bull that was off its leash, police reports said. Castro refused the animal control officer's request to put a leash on the dog, reports said.

Castro then cursed at the officer and put the leash around the pit bull's neck and pulled it so tightly the dog was off the ground and gasping for air, reports said.

To separate the dog from the man, the animal control officer pinned Castro to a wall and during the struggle Castro ordered the dog to attack him, reports said.

Police arrested Castro and impounded the dog, reports said.